Summer can be the hungriest time of the year for students who rely on free or reduced school meals and a new federal program is trying to help those families.

Those on the ground trying to eradicate hunger in Ohio say the new budget proposal from the state Senate would only exacerbate the problem.

A new study conducted by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks found that an alarming number of Ohioans are being forced to choose between buying food and paying for other essential household expenses. The findings, released this week, are from an anonymous statewide survey, which included 2,087 validated responses from residents of 32.6 percent of all Ohio ZIP codes.

Advocates focused on ending hunger in Ohio gathered at the Statehouse Thursday for the Praying for our Daily Bread Faith Leaders luncheon to discuss solutions in the state’s proposed operating budget.

Federal and state budget talks hold many funding sources in the balance, but advocates say hungry Ohioans shouldn’t become a pawn in the negotiation game.

After Congress ended pandemic food assistance in February, 70,000 older Ohioans have seen food benefits slashed to $23 a month, in some cases down from $280.