Latest news with #LocalFoodPurchaseAssistance2025CooperativeAgreement
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CT Foodshare to lose over 1 million pounds of food due to federal cuts: How it affects Norwich
Budget cuts to food programs from the United States Department of Agriculture can be felt all over the country, including in Connecticut. In March, Connecticut Foodshare experienced 'drastic cuts' to federal funding, including the elimination of the Local Food Purchase Assistance 2025 Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) and the loss of 34 truckloads from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the organization stated in press releases. 'This is a huge loss for Connecticut Foodshare, our local food pantries and the Connecticut residents we serve,' the organization stated. Connecticut Foodshare received $3 million in funds from past rounds of LFPA funding, funding 1 million meals. That funding allowed the organization to purchase food from local farms and provide healthy foods to those in need, External Communications Director Ayah Galal said. 'It's a big loss not having that program anymore,' she said. 'Connecticut became a national model for the LFPA program.' TEFAP is a federal nutrition program that moves food from farms to food banks, for people facing hunger. The program, which purchases fruits and vegetables from U.S. growers, is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The loss of TEFAP means Connecticut Foodshare is out 1.4 million pounds of food and would cost $1.7 million to recoup, Galal said. 'We're a nonprofit, so we don't have endless flows of money,' she said. 'It's been a gut punch.' The current situation is business as usual for the Gemma Moran Food Center, although there's been an increase in demand, and more people using services than before, due to rising food prices, United Way of Southeastern Connecticut President and CEO Dina Sears-Graves said. The Food Center itself isn't dependent on federal funds, relying on community donations and the retail recovery program instead. However, Connecticut Foodshare took a hit from the government cuts, so organizations using Foodshare, including the St. Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich, will look to other sources to make up for that loss, including the Food Center, Sears-Graves said. 'Eventually, we will not have enough food based on that,' she said. This said, Sears-Graves is confident the community will 'rise to the occasion,' and support the Food Center, she said. 'Hopefully through donations, we'll be able to make up some of the difference,' Sears-Graves said. Connecticut Foodshare is supporting state House Bill 7021, which would give the organization additional funds. The State of Connecticut currently gives Connecticut Foodshare $850,000 annually. If the bill passes, annual funding will increase to $10 million, Galal said. 'That's one way to make up for these lost funds, but we've been pushing for this funding before we found out about the federal cuts,' she said. Galal urges the public to donate to and volunteer for Connecticut Foodshare or their local food banks and pantries, she said. 'It's not an easy time, and it's unfortunate to see how drastically those cuts are impacting us as an organization, and the families we serve,' Galal said. This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: How Trump administration's USDA cuts affecting eastern Connecticut
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Davidson County families impacted after food pantry loses federal funding
LEXINGTON, N.C. (WGHP) — The United States Department of Agriculture cut more than$11 million in funding to North Carolina food banks. It's a decision that's trickled down to local pantries. One of those pantries is West Davidson Food Pantry In Lexington. 'We have already noticed that our funding has changed through Second Harv … We have been getting 55, 56 boxes per month. Now has dropped to 28 boxes,' Davidson Food Pantry Executive Director Wendy Marion said. The West Davidson Food Pantry serves 1,190 clients every month. Its food supply from Second Harvest Food Bank has been cut nearly in half for the next month. On top of that, they just learned they won't be receiving the usual $15,000 grant from the state, which is funding that has been crucial for keeping food on the shelves. 'That's going to hit us hard there,' Marion said. The pantry has already helped more than 4,000 clients this year, and donations haven't kept up with demand. The food pantry is unsure how they'll keep up with the need. 'We did not get an abundance this year of donations, and that has hurt us in just preparing for our future. We are … working with the community for donations and our churches, but I am worried about our clients and our elderly clients coming in, and we also serve the three elementary schools,' Marion said. One of the people who relies on this pantry is Leonard Hodson. 'We got custody of six grandkids … We got a full house, and my stepson moved down here from Indiana to help us out. Trying to feed these kids. It's crazy,' Hodson said. While he receives help, he also gives back by donating dozens of eggs from his own chickens. 'We bring them 16 to 24 dozen eggs every month because they need them all,' Hodson said. Hodson said he and his wife hope others will give what they can to help the food pantry survive. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was notified by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service via email on March 7 of the termination of the agreement for the Local Food Purchase Assistance 2025 Cooperative Agreement effective 60 days from the March 7 date. The funds of $11.4 million were to be utilized over the next three years. The state had not yet received or distributed any funds associated with this when this decision was made. 'We are always striving to create opportunities for North Carolina products across the state,' Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said. 'We are disappointed with this decision, and we will be discussing it with the appropriate people to see if there is a way to continue providing opportunities to communities with local foods and support farmers.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
