The City of Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Cuyahoga County Metropolitan Housing Authority will host monthly food giveaways to help residents affected by cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

The federal budget passed in January ended a three-year program that created a temporary boost to monthly SNAP benefits aimed at helping families during the pandemic. The city estimates that one in three residents, or about  114,000 Clevelanders, are affected by the cuts. 

“SNAP households will lose at least $95 in monthly benefits, but some will lose much more,” Cleveland Department of Aging Director Mary McNamara said in a press statement. “This loss of benefits, coupled with the inflated food prices we are seeing, is significant, particularly for seniors on fixed incomes and for low-income families with children.” 

Beginning April 5, the city and its partners will hand out boxes of produce on a first-come-first-serve basis at recreation center parking lots. 

The Cleveland Department of Public Health is also partnering with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to host a monthly drive-through food distribution at the J. Glen Smith Health Center and at the Thomas McCafferty Health Center. 

These services complement the Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s municipal lot drive-through distribution program and other food pantries across the city.

The city encourages residents who receive SNAP benefits to check their benefits amount by calling the Ohio Direction Card customer service center at 1-866-386-3071 or by visiting the self-service portal at ssp.benefits.ohio.gov. 

Food distribution information: 

Beginning April 5: 

• Collinwood Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center (16300 Lakeshore Blvd.) on the first Wednesday of each month from 3 to 6 p.m. 

• Michael Zone Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center (6301 Lorain Ave.) on the third Monday of each month from 3 to 6 p.m. 

•  East 59^th  St. & Haltnorth Ave. (in the parking lot across from the Boys & Girls Club) from 2 to 4 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. 

Beginning April 11: 

• J. Glen Smith Health Center (11100 St. Clair Ave.) on the second Tuesday of the month.

Beginning April 19: 

• Thomas McCafferty Health Center (4242 Lorain Ave.) on the third Wednesday of each month.

For additional resources: 

Greater Cleveland Food  Bank – “Find Food Near Me” tool provides locations of food pantries, mobile pantries, and hot-meal sites. The help center is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 216-738-2067 or toll-free at 855-738-2067. 

Hunger Network – The online map allows you to search and find food pantries or hot-meal sites nearby. The MidTown Market is open every other Monday in the evening from 4 to7 p.m. and every other Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon.

Produce Perks – A partnership with select Dave’s Supermarkets and local farmers’ markets helps stretch SNAP dollars. 

United Way 2-1-1 – The United Way Help Center is open 24 hours a day by calling 2-1-1 for resources and information about food, clothing, housing, health care and more. 

The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) – NEOCH publishes a street card with information on meal sites, housing, counseling and other services.

For more information about SNAP, which is administered by Health and Human Services of Cuyahoga County, visit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (cuyahogacounty.us)