11/03/2025

Local agencies team up to provide food assistance for those in need

Melissa Burden

Three county agencies have banded together to try and help fill gaps in food assistance for the individuals and families they serve.

“We will not allow residents of Lucas County not to eat because of political theater,” said Scott Sylak, Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lucas County executive director. “We serve 40,000 to 50,000 residents. They are some of our most vulnerable populations. If this helps them have one less thing to deal with then we are going to do it.”

Mr. Sylak, along with Lucas County Children Services Executive Director Randall Muth, and Michele Myerholtz, superintendent/CEO at Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, announced on Monday that the agencies will be providing almost $200,000 in funds to their current clients who do not have access to their SNAP benefits. 

LCCS will use money from an agency donation account, Mr. Muth said. There are approximately 1,500 to 2,000 children being served by LCCS.

“Children Services will be making up to $50,000 from its donation account available to ensure that families have sufficient food on hand to ensure that their children get the nutrition they need.” Mr. Muth said. “These funds will be available for families that we are currently serving, up to the monthly amount they would have otherwise received in SNAP benefits, and are necessary to prevent kids from coming into state custody for no other reason than the lapse of SNAP.”

“Lucas County Children Services’ mission is to stabilize and strengthen families,” Mr. Muth said. “Sometimes we must fulfill that mission in unique ways and under unusual circumstances. This is certainly one of those times.”

Mr. Muth said studies show that food insecurity is one of the most important threats to the health and wellbeing of people, particularly children. LCCS serves many families while the children are still in their own home. 

“The majority of those families get SNAP benefits,” Mr. Muth said. “If families cannot provide food that could mean many children will be in foster care instead of their own homes. The lack of resources and housing instability can mean that a child comes into our care.”

Mr. Muth stressed the funds that will be used are dollars gifted by individuals, organizations, and corporations to LCCS for the purpose of meeting special or emergency needs that may arise while supporting or stabilizing a family. 

“Donated funds are kept entirely separate from agency operating funds and they did not come from taxes” he said. “We are not using local tax dollars to replace federal tax dollars. We’re not using tax dollars at all. Under normal circumstances, we use these funds to supplement our robust holiday gift drive.”

Mr. Sylak said MHRSB will be using $49,000 of levy funds to support individuals in recovery who are not getting their SNAP benefits. Lucas County voters passed an additional 1.0-mill tax levy in March, 2024. 

“Many of our clients need to have food in order to take their medications,” Mr. Sylak said. “This will be one less barrier to recovery.”

Mr. Sylak said they will be working with their treatment providers to get the funding to individuals in their care. Those providers include Harbor, Unison, the Zepf Center, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio. 

“We expect to have the money to them in the next 48 hours,” Mr. Sylak said. 

Mrs. Myerholtz said the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be using $100,000 to help individuals and families using their services. 

“We will have our staff to help identify individuals and families who may not be able to eat without our intervention,” Ms. Myerholtz said. “Our mission is to be able to help individuals and families live their lives to the fullest potential. That is at risk without help with food.”

Ms. Myerholtz said the issue is beyond someone having a “hungry belly.”

“It is our duty to help protect their health,” she said. “Many of our clients have medical conditions that require medications that have to be taken with food.”

Mr. Muth said the agency’s staff have also begun a food drive.

“Our employees were so moved by the possibility that children might go hungry, they took it upon themselves to organize a food and donation drive for the Seagate Food Bank.” Mr. Muth said.

“They’ve recruited other county agencies to do the same. The Lucas County Family and Children First Council, Department of Job and Family Services, and the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board have already joined with us,” he said.