Ohio’s food banks are open during the federal shutdown but bracing for impact if it drags onCOLUMBUS, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) — Food banks are open as usual during this federal government shutdown, as concerns are rising for what might happen with benefits if the situation drags on. “We’ve very rarely seen long-term shutdowns that have led to actual impacts on public benefit access,” said Joree Novotny, executive director of the Ohio Association of Food Banks. Novotny said that means for October, those receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Women, Infants and Children food program should have no concerns. As for federal money that goes to food banks, Novotny said those funds “have already been authorized and approved because a lot of those grants run on different cycles than the federal fiscal year,” said Joree Novotny, executive director of the Ohio Association of Food Banks. Food banks got $24.5 million in each year of the new state budget, which is a drop of $7.5 million from the previous fiscal year.