Spotlight of the Week- Matt Habash
This week, we celebrate the extraordinary efforts of Matt Habash, a dedicated leader in Ohio whose work has transformed lives and created opportunities for families and children to thrive. As the Executive Director of Mid-Ohio Food Collective, Matt has spent decades leading the charge against hunger with a vision that extends far beyond providing food, it’s about ending hunger and stabilizing families for a lifetime.
Matt’s journey began in 1984 when he became the executive director of Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Under his leadership, the Foodbank grew from distributing 6 million pounds of food annually to over 70 million pounds by 2016, half of which is fresh produce. Recognizing that hunger cannot be tackled in isolation, Matt shifted the Foodbank’s mission in 2017 to focus not only on feeding people today but also addressing the root causes of hunger to eliminate it entirely.
Matt’s innovative strategies directly benefit children by ensuring they have access to nutritious food, a fundamental building block for healthy growth, learning, and development. Programs supported by the Mid-Ohio Food Collective provide meals for families, enabling parents to focus on creating a better future for their children without the constant worry of food insecurity.
By elevating wages for Foodbank employees to a minimum of $15 an hour in 2014, Matt set a powerful example of how economic stability can reduce poverty and give families—including children—a fair chance at a brighter future. His belief in addressing income inequality underscores the importance of empowering communities so every child can flourish.
Matt’s impact extends into broader community efforts. He served as Columbus City Council President from 1999 to 2006, where he spearheaded initiatives like the Indoor Clean Air Act and the BikePath Plan—both of which improve the quality of life for families. Matt also actively supports the OSU Star House, a drop-in center for homeless youth, ensuring that children and teens have access to safe spaces and resources to rebuild their lives.
In addition to his local contributions, Matt leads Feeding America’s national initiative to recover an additional one billion pounds of fresh produce annually. His dedication ensures that nutritious food reaches children and families in need, paving the way for a healthier generation.
Matt’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including Feeding America’s prestigious John van Hengel Fellowship Award and the Corcoran Award for Social Justice. These honors reflect his unwavering commitment to serving those most vulnerable, especially children who rely on the stability that comes from consistent access to healthy meals. We celebrate Matt Habash as our Spotlight of the Week for his profound impact on the lives of children and families in Ohio.
