4 days ago
Cuts in produce vouchers to affect low-income seniors
LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— Thousands of seniors statewide will soon be feeling the effects of federal budget cuts.
This time the cuts take aim at a program that helps low-income seniors get fresh produce.
Each summer, the senior farmers market nutrition program helps thousands of low-income seniors across the state.
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But cuts to the program are limiting the number of vouchers the program can give out.
In Lackawanna County alone, 38,000 farmers market vouchers were requested by the county's agency on aging, the agency in charge of distributing them.
But because of cuts to federal spending, they'll only be getting around 29,000.
'It really helps in your savings, but you want to help the farmer more-so than anything else,' said Denise Mehl, Scranton.
Under the State Department of Agriculture program, residents over 60 who fall within the program's income requirements are eligible to receive up to five $5 vouchers each to spend at local farmers markets.
Denise Mehl visits the Scranton farmers market regularly, and while not crucial to her budget, she says the vouchers help a lot.
More than anything though, she worries about the farmers, about 1,000 farms participate in the program state-wide.
'If we didn't have them we wouldn't have anything,' voiced Mehl.
According to the state department of agriculture, residents in Lackawanna County used these vouchers at a higher rate than any other county last year, over 90% of them were redeemed.
'It hurts people. It hurts the people that we serve here in Lackawanna County, those who need the help the most, and I just think that is really inhumane that they've done this,' expressed Bill Gaughan, county commissioner, Lackawanna County.
State officials say the Trump administration has only released part of the funding congress approved, forcing agencies to slash their distribution by more than 25%.
We reached out to GOP Congressman Rob Bresnahan for comment on the issue. He responded in-part:
'The recent decision to reduce benefits for the farmers market vouchers for seniors program was made at the state level. While I do not control those decisions, I am actively working at the federal level on a bipartisan bill to expand local food purchasing from our farmers to support those most in need. I look forward to announcing that legislation in the coming weeks.'
Rep. Bresnahan
Bresnahan says he and his team will be in contact with the Lackawanna County Agency on Aging to help ensure they receive the full funding and support they need for the program.
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