COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Food banks and pantries feed the hungry every day of every month.
As the state crunches the numbers on a new budget, local organizations are worried their numbers will get crunched, NBC 4's Marcus Thorpe reported.
"In the past several months, we've noticed an increase in people coming in needing food," said Cheryl Carter, of Neighborhood Services.
Second Harvest Foodbanks asked the governor for $17 million and they think the amount they receive may be half that. To similar groups, it's a number they can't live with.
"It's woefully inadequate and there is nothing more basic than food," said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, of Second Harvest Foodbanks.
With food costs soaring and state funding leveling off in the budget, it could mean big trouble for the organizations.
"Over the summer, we have kids at home, so families already struggling can't count on schools to help their children," Carter said.
In the meantime, groups will be making the trek to the elected officials to plead their case to not close the door on hope and that neither food nor a bump in funding is optional.
A representative with the governor's office said that Ohio is reflecting the rest of the country and this was a budget of tough choices, adding that the governor did his best to protect important groups like food banks for cuts while others saw 10 to 20 percent in cuts.
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