logo
Tampa Bay food banks bracing for cutbacks under Trump

Tampa Bay food banks bracing for cutbacks under Trump

Yahoo23-05-2025

Food banks and nonprofits supplying meals to low-income people across Tampa Bay are bracing for potential cutbacks to federal programs that supply them with food or money.
The changes being pushed by Donald Trump's administration come at a time when the cost of living, including groceries, is getting more expensive, pushing demand for affordable food higher. And the price of distributing that food is getting more expensive, too, advocates say.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in March cut more than $1 billion in federal funding when it canceled two programs that gave money to schools and food banks to buy food from local ranchers and farmers.
Because of these cuts, food banks nationwide have lost access to millions of meals. In Central Florida, an organization that distributes meals to seven counties lost more than $1 million worth of food, according to news reports. And it's continuing to struggle with federal funding losses.
Some nonprofits in Tampa Bay said they are still waiting to see whether the programs they use will get cut. But as the Trump administration looks to reduce other federal assistance programs, local food banks are worried the issues may compound.
Feeding Tampa Bay, a nonprofit that serves 10 counties in the region, receives about 20% of its meals from a federal program, amounting to 20 million meals.
Thomas Mantz, president and chief executive officer of Feeding Tampa Bay, said he's unsure if the program will get cut next year.
'We're going to do everything we can, but I don't suspect that we can make up that gap,' he said. 'We are a charitable-based organization, so all of what we do comes from the goodwill of the community, so that would be a big impact.'
Metropolitan Ministries, a Tampa-based nonprofit providing services for people without homes or at-risk of losing housing, serves nearly 133,000 meals a month across Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
Ten percent of its budget comes from federal funding sources. The nonprofit also relies on the federal AmeriCorps program, which connects volunteers with communities in need.
This year, the Trump administration made sweeping cuts to staff and funding for AmeriCorps. Two dozen states last month sued the federal government over those changes.
Christine Long, chief programs officer for Metropolitan Ministries, said she and her staff are regrouping after losing 30 volunteers from the AmeriCorps program. Now, they're monitoring potential funding changes affecting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
'Anytime there's a crunch on somebody's budget, oftentimes food is one of the first things that they lose the ability to purchase,' Long said. 'People who help folks with hunger issues are so critically important.'
Inconsistent federal funding has long been a challenge to operating a nonprofit, said David Lomaka, executive director of Neighborly Senior Care Network in Pinellas.
The nonprofit provides services for older residents, including Meals on Wheels home delivery and group dining. It gets federal funding from the Older Americans Act, which Congress passed in 1965 to provide social and nutritional services to seniors.
Nonprofits have to pay up front for their services and repayment isn't guaranteed.
'The money starts and stops,' Lomaka said. 'Starts and stops.'
Neighborly Senior Care Network bills the state for the cost of its services, and the state then bills the federal government. Once the expense is approved, it has to go back down the ladder.
As layoffs began in D.C. earlier this year, Lomaka said he heard there could be delays in receiving those reimbursements.
'It's just very ineffective, inefficient,' he said. 'But it's the government, so this has been going on for a while.'
Trump's fiscal year 2026 recommended funding puts some services under the Older Americans Act at risk because of proposed cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' budget, according to the National Council on Aging.
Local leaders are also keeping a close eye on cuts and restrictions to government assistance programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provide health care and grocery money for low-income households.
These programs are a part of the public health ecosystem. When people struggle to access food, they are also likely to have barriers to health care, said Erica Monet Li, a health policy analyst for the Florida Policy Institute, a nonpartisan advocacy organization.
'Health care and nutrition absolutely intersect,' Li said. 'When people are properly fed and can feed their children, they have better health outcomes in general.'
Medicaid and food assistance have been prominent policy issues for Republicans this session, who want to reduce spending on these programs. The House on Thursday passed a sweeping bill, dubbed the One Big, Beautiful Bill, that would make more stringent work requirements for Medicaid and food assistance.
In Pinellas and Hillsborough counties alone, 26,000 people in households with children could lose some amount of food assistance benefits if these work requirements are enacted, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Long, with Metropolitan Ministries, and other food bank leaders said these restrictions could push people further into the safety net of government assistance.
'These types of government changes are going to impact their daily life,' she said. 'I think we're going to see a big increase in people coming to us for our services, yet our services are dwindling as well.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Dollar Extends Its Slide as US Tariff Concerns Pick Up Again
Dollar Extends Its Slide as US Tariff Concerns Pick Up Again

Bloomberg

time20 minutes ago

  • Bloomberg

Dollar Extends Its Slide as US Tariff Concerns Pick Up Again

The dollar extended its decline versus major peers as worries over US tariffs increased after President Donald Trump said he would notify trading partners soon of unilateral levy rates. Bloomberg's gauge of the dollar slid as much as 0.3% on Thursday to touch its lowest level since July 2023 following the news, with the safe-haven yen and Swiss franc leading the advance against the greenback. The dollar was already under pressure from a weaker-than-expected US inflation print, which helped spur traders to fully price in two quarter-point Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year.

Alberta premier faces raucous, angry town hall on province's coal policy
Alberta premier faces raucous, angry town hall on province's coal policy

Hamilton Spectator

time22 minutes ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Alberta premier faces raucous, angry town hall on province's coal policy

FORT MACLEOD - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and three of her ministers got an earful from southern Alberta locals at a rowdy, hours-long town hall to discuss the province's coal policy. About 500 people, dressed in cowboy hats, belt buckles, and jeans, packed a community hall in Fort Macleod, Alta., for an event marked by heckling, competing applause, and placards. The premier and her ministers of energy, environment and agriculture took questions and were shouted down on several occasions by attendees as they defended changes to the province's coal policy. The town hall came weeks after the Alberta Energy Regulator, or AER, granted an Australia-based coal company permission to start a controversial coal exploration on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. A new study by Alberta government scientists, which has yet to be peer reviewed, recently said old coal mines on the eastern slopes are poisoning fish and any further coal mining there would result in 'population collapse' of fish species in a nearby lake. The premier also jousted with protesters while speaking to reporters before the town hall, where concerns about water, agriculture and wildlife were also raised. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

LAPD Chief Pushes Back on Trump National Guard Claim
LAPD Chief Pushes Back on Trump National Guard Claim

Newsweek

time25 minutes ago

  • Newsweek

LAPD Chief Pushes Back on Trump National Guard Claim

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief Jim McDonnell said the protests and riots in portions of downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday are "nowhere near" the level of needing the National Guard, denouncing President Donald Trump's assertion that without the troops, the city would be "burning to the ground." Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment on Wednesday. Why It Matters Since his January 20 inauguration, Trump has implemented sweeping change, mainly through executive orders, and has prioritized immigration control as a key pillar within his second administration. Trump last month utilized the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime law granting the commander in chief authority to detain or deport non-citizens. The implementation was originally blocked in federal court and sparked a contentious legal back-and-forth. The president also campaigned on the promise of mass deportations and appointed Tom Homan as his administration's border czar to execute his agenda. What To Know Protests broke out on Friday in reaction to numerous U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids throughout Los Angeles. Amid the ongoing tumult, city officials including Mayor Karen Bass implemented a curfew for portions of downtown, from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, and it was extended into Wednesday night as well. The LAPD warned that people who break the curfew and who are not exempt—like first responders, credentialed media and those who live in the affected area—will be subject to arrest. While speaking to CNN's Kaitlan Collins, McDonnell said that Wednesday was a "better day," adding that it is "calmer." "No, we were not in a position to request the National Guard," McDonnell said. "We have a protocol that we work up through; first we bring in all internal resources to bear on the issue, whatever it is. Then we mobilize the department or part of the department to be able to get everybody out there dealing with the issue. If we don't have the capacity at that point to be able to do that, then through the sheriff we request mutual aid and we get our law enforcement partners from police departments and sheriff's departments throughout the Southern California region to assist us in doing what it is we need to do." "We're at that level now," McDonnell added. "And we're nowhere near a level where we would be reaching out to the governor for National Guard at this stage. And my hope is that things are going in the right direction now and that we wouldn't have had to have done that, or we won't either." Trump said in part on Wednesday while speaking to reporters that if he didn't bring in the National Guard and the Marines, the city of Los Angeles would be "burning to the ground, just like it was a number of months ago." The president's reference was to the deadly wildfires that inundated Los Angeles County, torching thousands of buildings and displacing thousands of Angelenos. Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom in a formal address to the Golden State on Tuesday ripped Trump and his administration for inflaming an already combustible situation. Newsom also denounced any violence or harm to law enforcement, vowing to prosecute any lawlessness. Protesters confront California National Guard soldiers and police outside a federal building on June 9 as protests continue in Los Angeles following three days of clashes with police after a series of immigration raids. (Photo... Protesters confront California National Guard soldiers and police outside a federal building on June 9 as protests continue in Los Angeles following three days of clashes with police after a series of immigration raids. (Photo by) More What People Are Saying Newsom posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday: "Trump is politicizing our military and pulling them off critical missions to further his own agenda." Trump said on Truth Social Wednesday: "If our troops didn't go into Los Angeles, it would be burning to the ground right now, just like so much of their housing burned to the ground. The great people of Los Angeles are very lucky that I made the decision to go in and help!!!" California Attorney General Rob Bonta posted to X on Wednesday: "18 Attorneys General from across the nation speaking out against the President's abuse of power. The Trump Administration's unlawful efforts to force federalized national guard forces and the U.S. military to patrol our streets is deeply alarming and cannot go unchecked." Bass said on X Wednesday: "Curfew remains in effect tonight 8 PM - 6 AM for Downtown Los Angeles to stop bad actors who are taking advantage of the President's chaotic escalation. If you do not live or work in Downtown L.A., avoid the area and follow guidance from law enforcement. Vandalism and violence will not be tolerated." What Happens Next There is a hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss the legality of the National Guard activation in Los Angeles.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store