The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department was awarded $120,000 for four initiatives in 2025, ranging from water bottle filling stations to healthy food in underserved areas.

The grant from the Ohio Department of Health funds the Community Agriculture Resilience Audit Tool, which will help the county evaluate gaps in food access and eventually create a roadmap for how to build a “more resilient, equitable food network” and create a food policy council, officials said.

It also helped fund refrigeration equipment for five corner stores in underserved neighborhoods, allowing them to stock fresh produce and healthy food, and launched the Produce Perks program at Phoenix Earth Co-op, which doubles SNAP benefits for fruits and vegetables.

A water bottle filling station was installed at Highlan

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