Dear Friends,
I’m writing to share how United Way is responding to an urgent challenge facing our community: the disruption of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that will directly impact thousands of families across Greater Cincinnati this month.
Across our nine-county region, more than 140,000 households receive SNAP benefits — nearly $25 million in monthly support that helps families put food on the table. When these benefits are disrupted, even if for a short period, the ripple effects are immediate: families face impossible choices, local food pantries see surges in demand, and the entire community feels the strain.
Over the past week, our team has been in conversation with key stakeholders, community leaders, and partners across the region to understand existing efforts and lean into collective problem solving. These conversations have reinforced what we know to be true: buffering this impact will require us to work together and leverage our collective resources, shared purchasing power, and community infrastructure.
United Way is uniquely positioned to help coordinate this response. Our 211 resource database and helpline serves as the region’s front door to social services, and our partnerships span the entire food security ecosystem — from large-scale food banks to neighborhood pantries, from health care systems to grassroots community organizations.
Our Response
We’re taking immediate action while building toward longer-term solutions. Next week, we’ll be sharing more details about our direct response, including:
- Strengthening access to food resources – We’re ensuring that resources in our 211 database are the most current and accurate, making it easier for community members to locate food assistance in their neighborhoods when they need it most.
- Identifying critical capacity gaps – We’re assessing where capacity constraints exist across our food provider network and comparing that against where we know demand will be highest, so we can target resources where they’re needed most.
- Coordinating strategic funding deployment – We’re working collaboratively with other funders, such as the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, to strategically deploy resources, leveraging our collective purchasing power and avoiding duplication of efforts.
How You Can Help
Your partnership and support have never been more critical. Whether you’re a donor, a board member, or a partner organization leader, your engagement fuels impact.
- Stay informed – Watch for updates as we share more details about coordinated response efforts.
- Share resources – If your organization serves families affected by SNAP disruption, connect with us to discuss how we can support your work.
- Amplify the message – Help ensure families know about 211 and local food resources available to them. Call 211 or explore our food resource map at uwgc211.org. Our team is ready to help 24/7.
Moving Forward Together
This challenge is significant, but so is our community’s capacity for compassionate, coordinated action. United Way has been bringing people and resources together to solve complex problems for more than a century. This moment calls on that legacy — and on all of us — to ensure no family in Greater Cincinnati goes hungry.
I welcome the opportunity to connect with you about what you’re seeing in the community and how we can work together in the days and weeks ahead.
With gratitude for your partnership,
Moira Weir
President & CEO, United Way of Greater Cincinnati
