Latest news with #LocalFoodforSchoolsandChildCareCooperativeAgreement
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma food banks impacted by federal budget cuts to food assistance programs
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Food banks across the state are feeling the impact of federal budget cuts to food assistance programs. 'Literally, we've seen less food,' said Stacy Dykstra, the CEO of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. 'So, it's really unsettling… When we lose these resources, it directly impacts people facing hunger in our state.' LOCAL NEWS: 'One of the most impactful Oklahomans ever': Public service held for David Boren The U.S. Agriculture Department slashed two federal programs that spent over $1 billion annually to help schools and food banks buy food from local farms and ranches. 'They're [food banks are] taking some of the hit now, but it's going to be over time that it builds, because they already have higher demand than they've ever had,' said Chris Bernard, the CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma. In a statement to KFOR earlier this month, the USDA said: 'USDA can confirm it has provided notice to States, Territories and Tribes that the FY 2025 funding previously announced for the pandemic-era Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement (LFSCC) and pandemic-era Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program (LFPA25) is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification. These programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance. AMS will resume processing claims for payment for LFPA and LFPA Plus for activities accruing prior to and after January 20, 2025.' USDA Spokesperson 'What that's going to do is make them [food banks] have to scramble to try and raise more money,' said Bernard. 'But honestly, there's only so much money you can raise as a charity, and so you're not going to be able to fully fill that gap.' LOCAL NEWS: Okla. Innovation Expansion Program opens applications March 31 – April 11, 2025 The cuts come as Oklahoma is ranked the 6th hungriest state in the nation. More than 15 percent of households across the state are considered food insecure. 'We've got to support our most vulnerable Oklahomans, who are, you know, falling on hard times and need a little support now and then,' said Dykstra. Bernard said while the loss of the programs is 'significant,' it's 'not world ending.' However, he is worried more federal programs could eventually be cut as well, leading to a bigger issue. 'It will be a pain point, but something that you can try and kind of figure out how to address over time,' said Bernard. 'The problem is, it's not in a vacuum, and there are lots of other things happening that are putting more pressures on households and reducing the amount of resources going to folks in need. And that's where you're going to see the system start to crumble.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
USDA program cuts deepening Charlotte food insecurity, food banks say
The United States Department of Agriculture is ending several pandemic-era programs that connected local farmers to food banks and schools. The USDA is ending the Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program, a program that helps food banks purchase food from local farmers. And some food bank workers told Channel 9′s Erika Jackson it's affecting their ability to help people. Tens of thousands of people in Mecklenburg County rely on Nourish Up, a food pantry and delivery service to keep their families fed and healthy. Nourish Up is a group working to fight food insecurity and provide healthy options within their food pantries, according to CEO Tina Postel. 'We see so many clients who are suffering from diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease. And so if all we have available to feed people are pop-tarts and pastries at the end of the day, we're making their underlying health conditions worse,' Postel said. READ: Food pantry sets new record serving families as need grows Nourish Up served 164,000 people in 2024, a 19% increase from 2023, Postel said. 'There are too many families and seniors on fixed incomes that are struggling to pay rent or pay for, you know, their necessary medications or buy groceries and sadly, rent eats first,' she said. Nourish Up gives each family member it services a box filled with non-perishables alongside fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables. Those foods come from donations and partnerships, Postel said. One of Nourish Up's partners is Second Harvest Food Bank. The USDA LFPA program helped Second Harvest purchase foods from local farmers. Postel said this can affect the quality of food Nourish Up gives out. 'Any cuts to that might mean that we have to purchase more, you know, nonperishable food instead of the fresh, healthy stuff,' she said. Nourish Up has never had to turn people away, Postel said. And that is still top priority. 'That's our goal, is to make sure that everybody has access to food, and so there's no shame in calling us and asking for help,' she said. READ: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to give out food monthly The USDA also cut the Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement, a program that helps connect schools and childcare centers to buy food from farmers. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools told Jackson that it spent more than $500,000 in it's current phase of the program. It hopes to continue to the next phase of funding to buy locally grown products. A USDA spokesperson told Jackson that the two programs were pandemic-era programs and have reached their ends. 'The COVID era is over—USDA's approach to nutrition programs will reflect that reality moving forward,' the spokesperson said in a statement. The administration said it is still focused on 'strengthening food security, supporting agricultural markets, and ensuring access to nutritious food.' But the hope is to focus on more long-term solutions, according to a USDA spokesperson. 'Unlike the Biden Administration, which funneled billions in CCC funds into short-term programs with no plan for longevity, USDA is prioritizing stable, proven solutions that deliver lasting impact,' the spokesperson said. The USDA said all existing agreements under the programs will be terminated in the next 60 days. WATCH: Food pantry sets new record serving families as need grows
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ISBE: Trump Administration cancels funding that helps feed kids
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) says the Trump Administration on March 7 canceled funding to the Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement that would have supported up to 4,017 Illinois public and nonpublic schools and 1,250 child care sites in purchasing 'high-quality, locally-grown, fresh food' from Illinois farmers to use in meals and snacks. Officials say the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a termination notice to the ISBE for the grant program that would have provided $26.3 million to Illinois schools, child care sites and local farmers through 2028. Governor Beshear talks Paducah business expansion, weather recovery 'The decision to cancel this funding is deeply disappointing and a disservice to Illinois children, families, and farmers,' said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. 'These grants were designed to ensure that students in our schools and child care centers have access to fresh, locally-sourced food while also supporting our state's agricultural economy. This funding was essential to provide Illinois schools and child care sites with nutritious meals that fuel learning and growth.' Gov. Braun announces initiative to continue funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library The ISBE says the Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement grant was the second round of funding for the Local Food for Schools program, expanded to allow for the participation of child care centers. ISBE signed its agreement for $26.3 million on January 30, but the funds will now never reach Illinois schools and farmers. Schools would have received approximately $17.8 million and child care institutions would have received approximately $8.5 million over the course of the next three years to purchase 'high-quality, fresh and nutritious' food from local farmers to use in the meals and snacks served to children. Officials say Illinois' pre-existing Local Food for Schools grant totaling $7.4 million remains intact, and the funds are available to grantees through January 31, 2026. The existing grant has supported approximately 2,100 schools serving over 1 million students in purchasing locally-grown food from 138 different farms and ranches across the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Not what we voted for': Programs funneling farmers' food to schools, food banks cut
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Federal funds impacting Oklahoma farmers, schools and food banks are on the chopping block. The U.S. Agriculture Department has cut two federal programs that spent over $1 billion annually to help schools and food banks buy food from local farms and ranches. USDA can confirm it has provided notice to States, Territories and Tribes that the FY 2025 funding previously announced for the pandemic-era Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement (LFSCC) and pandemic-era Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program (LFPA25) is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification. These programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance. AMS will resume processing claims for payment for LFPA and LFPA Plus for activities accruing prior to and after January 20, 2025. USDA Spokesperson Hunger Free Oklahoma expects Oklahoma to lose up to $30 million in funding. 'Really the hardest hit area is your local growers and food hubs that help sort of consolidate the products into one place that the schools and food banks can buy from,' said Chris Bernard, CEO and president, Hunger Free Oklahoma. Christina Farris, a farmer in Fort Cobb, says she is blown away by the decision. 'The first thing we thought was they just want to get rid of all the small farmers and just have mega farms because that's not what we voted for,' said Christina Farris, owner of CF2 Cattle Company and Cowgirl Beef. The OKC Food Hub, which works directly with the farmers, schools and food bank also weighed in on the impacts. House passes bill to fund federal agencies through September, though prospects unclear in Senate 'Farmers will not have an investment in their farms to get food to communities and schoolchildren like starting in June, they would have had like, you know, X amount of dollars promised to their farm, now they don't,' said Jenna Moore, OKC Food Hub. Oklahoma is luckier than other areas, the state has a similar program that's not going away. 'We still get to provide food for our kids and to share our knowledge and to reach out into those communities and start those conversations on maybe they want to be a small pork farmer, maybe they want to grow some tomatoes,' said Farris. The state legislature has allocated $3.2 million for the Local Food for School Program, but making up those federal dollars, close to $30 million may be impossible. 'It's just such a blessing to live in a state that supportive of AG, I guess our federal government needs to get it together,' said Farris. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry sent News 4 the following statement. As we learn about changes to federal programs, ODAFF will continue to work with stakeholders and partners at all levels to explore opportunities that benefit both local producers and Oklahoma consumers. Interest in local foods is at an all-time high, and it is a priority for our agency to further market opportunities for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers and access to those options for all Oklahomans. ODAFF The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma also sent a statement. We are deeply disappointed by the recent decision to cancel the USDA's Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program (LFPA). This funding has enabled us to purchase and distribute fresh, nutritious food to the communities we serve. The loss of this program will significantly impact our ability to meet the increasing demand for food assistance, especially as more families face food insecurity. We urge lawmakers and stakeholders to reconsider this decision and support critical programs that ensure no one goes hungry. Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Officials encourage you to reach out to your elected officials in D.C. about the cuts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
