Fighting Hunger Program

The United Way’s Fighting Hunger Program is a funding mechanism for organizations serving Putnam County individuals and families in need of food assistance. Applicant organizations:  

Is there really hunger in Putnam County?Did you know Putnam County has food pantries in Columbus Grove, Continental, Dupont, Leipsic, and Ottawa?   See the Social Service Directory for locations, service areas, and hours of operations.  

Did you know that two Putnam County schools have weekend Backpack Programs?  The Backpack program is a weekend supplemental meal program for children who face food insecurity on a regular basis.  Six easy- to-make meals are sent home on Friday afternoon with students who indicate a need or desire for these supplemental meals. This program currently operates at Ottawa Elementary and Columbus Grove elementary schools.  

How you can help?

Support this program via our secure online payment system:  

Or checks can be sent to:

United Way of Putnam County

P.O. Box 472

Ottawa, OH 45875

Note: Make the check payable to “United Way of Putnam County” with “Fighting Hunger Program” on the memo line.

Your gift is 100% EFFECTIVE! Every dollar raised will be used solely for the purchase of emergency foods.  Fighting Hunger Program grants are available to food pantries and backpack programs only as resources allow.  Hunger Facts In many ways, America is the land of plenty.  But for 1 in 6 people in the United States, hunger is a very real issue.  Many people believe that the problems associated with hunger are confined to small pockets of society, certain areas of the country, or certain neighborhoods, but the reality is much different.  

The following are findings pertaining specifically to an 11-county area in Northwest Ohio – the service area of the West Ohio Food Bank, Lima.

Who receives emergency food assistance?        

•    41% of the members of households are children under 18 years old        

•    7% of the members of households are elderly

•    42% of households include at least one employed adult          

•    76% have incomes below the official federal poverty level