In the state of Ohio, about 1.7 million adults and more than half a million kids are food insecure. Centric’s Columbus Practice is partnering with local food agencies to help solve the problem.
Hunger is a daily fact of life for many Americans. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 18 million families — 47 million individuals — were “food insecure” in 2023, an increase of 1 million people from 2022.
Of the nation’s households with children, 6.5 million face food insecurity, affecting some 7 million kids. For many, the lunch they get at school may be the only meal of the day.
Closer to home, food insecurity in Centric Consulting’s home state of Ohio reflects the national trend.
Centric’s Columbus Practice is partnering with local food agencies to solve the problem. In the state of Ohio, about 1.7 million adults and more than half a million kids are food insecure.
Senior Consultant Jessica Roush, who serves as Community Service Steward as part of her Practice Management responsibilities, recently led two volunteer initiatives to help those in need.
“I grew up in a small town, where a lot of people relied on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or school lunches for food,” Roush said. “My mom was a teacher in the Columbus School District for 35 years. She taught in my small hometown in Eastern Ohio for 35 years, and I’ve always been grateful that our family never had to make really tough choices about food.”
In the first event, held December 2024, the Columbus Practice partnered with Feed the Kids Columbus to help kids fill the gap between the free or reduced-price lunches they receive at school and the meals they may miss at home.
Roush collected nearly $1,000 from Centric employees to purchase food at a warehouse store. Then, she hosted employees at her house one Saturday for a bag-filling party. Together, the group filled 1,000 snack bags with treats like Nutri-Grain and granola bars.
“We are incredibly grateful for Centric Consulting’s Columbus team and their generosity in supporting Feed The Kids Columbus,” said Ashley Kanney, Founder and President of Feed the Kids Columbus.
“Having the local branch of an international company rally behind our mission by providing tangible support also in reinforces the power of community-driven impact. Their efforts directly help children in Columbus stay nourished, focused, and ready to learn, aligning perfectly with our mission to ensure no child is distracted by hunger.”
In February 2025, nine Centric employees participated in a Service Saturday for the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. The collective provides a grocery-shopping experience, the Mid-Ohio Food Market, where income-qualified people can purchase discounted food acquired with funds from federal and state funded programs, donations from individuals and corporate donations from individuals and corporate donations.
The market, like the food pantries in 20 Ohio counties the agency serves, also receives in-kind food donations from area grocery stores. Volunteers, including the Centric team, helped beneficiaries do their shopping.
“Mid-Ohio Food Collective is grateful for all of our volunteers and corporate volunteer groups, turning compassion for others into action,” said Craig Truax, Mid-Ohio Food Collective Director of Corporate Partnerships.
“Centric Consulting’s dedication to our mission not only helps to stock the shelves of our partners but also fills the bellies of our hungry neighbors, creating a lasting impact on the lives of those in need.”
Roush noted that the Columbus Practice also has stewards in he areas of resume writing, creating unmatched experiences and communicating effectively.
“I think it’s revealing that we’ve included community service in our Practice Management work, because it really shows our commitment to Centric’s core values of igniting passion for the greater good and investing in an exceptional culture,” Roush said. “These opportunities allow employees to do both and have fun at the same time!”