Latest news with #MichaelLedger
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama food banks worry about Congress proposing billions in cuts to food aid program
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A coalition of the largest food banks in Alabama is warning that cuts being considered by Congress to the SNAP food assistance program could have devastating consequences. According to multiple reports, the U.S. House of Representatives is considering cutting $230 billion from the program and shifting more of the cost from the federal government to the states. State sales tax on diapers, formula, feminine hygiene products ends Sept. 1 But the food bank coalition Feeding Alabama tells News 19 the cuts come at a time when other federal dollars for food banks and school nutrition programs are also being cut, and hunger problems are not declining. There are food banks in every county in the state, but Feeding Alabama officials say a major cut to SNAP would be very difficult to make up elsewhere. Congress on Tuesday was beginning its debate on the proposed $230 billion, 10-year SNAP benefit cut. The initial proposals would shift more costs to states, expand qualifying requirements and increase work demands on older recipients. But advocates say SNAP in Alabama has an economic impact of $1.80 for every program. They said SNAP recipients include several people every year in Alabama who need temporary food assistance as they navigate a crisis brought on by a job loss or medical problems. The goal, advocates say, is to provide a temporary source of reliable food to help allow them to get back on their feet and resume productive lives. Feeding Alabama says the program benefits farmers, small grocery stores and rural communities, and the impact is widespread. Feeding Alabama's network includes the Food Bank of North Alabama and food banks across the state, including the Gulf Coast. 'Over 700,000 folks in Alabama turn to SNAP at one time or another in any given year,' said Michael Ledger, CEO of Feeding the Gulf Coast. 'And it's a vital program, for every pound of food we put out in the food bank, SNAP can provide nine.''The vast majority of the people getting SNAP are either seniors or children that are benefiting from this. And these are two population segments, we know, the choices they have are limited. A child is not really going to be able to affect their circumstances. A senior who is on a fixedincome is not going to be able to affect their circumstances and so reducing that could have a real dramatic impact,' Ledger added. Feeding Alabama also estimates that 23,000 veterans in Alabama are using SNAP benefits. The proposed cuts are part of a House GOP-led budget and tax cut overhaul. News 19 has reached out to North Alabama U.S. Representatives Dale Strong and Robert Aderholt regarding their views of the proposed SNAP cuts. So far, neither congressman has responded. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Feeding the Gulf Coast plans to expand Milton facility
MILTON, Fla. (WKRG) — One in six people, including children, are food insecure along the central Gulf Coast. Parishioners gather for Stations of the Crosses service observed on Good Friday Feeding the Gulf Coast needs a facility that can keep up. That's why plans are in the works to expand their Milton facility. 'We just want to be able to make a bigger impact and we think this addition will help us do that,' President & CEO of FTGC, Michael Ledger, said. With an addition of about 6,000 square feet, Ledger said they'll be able to process more food through the facility and also provide additional resources to the community. 'We're going to be able to add a kitchen which we're going to preparing for meals for children and we're going to be able to start offering nutrition education classes in the facility,' Ledger said. Last year, FTGC provided 37 million meals along the central Gulf Coast. 14 million of those meals were provided to families facing hunger in the Florida Panhandle. 'The need unfortunately continues to grow,' Ledger said. 'You know during COVID it exploded. We had hoped that it would start to recede, it wouldn't happen over night but that it would slowly start to decrease, unfortunately it's continued to increase.' Ledger said they hope to start construction on the expansion in the fall. 'It's going to allow us to reach more people and the need is greater than ever,' Ledger said. Okaloosa County deputies respond to sinkhole delaying traffic in Destin Resources for those facing food insecurity can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Stock The Pantry Food Drive Begins
MOBILE, Ala (WKRG) – For the past few years, our Stock The Pantry Food Drive has helped fill the shelves at Feeding the Gulf Coast with thousands of pounds of food meant for children who will soon be out of school for the summer. And while they are out of school, many of them will not be getting the nutrition they need. 'We know hunger has not gone down, the rate of hunger has gone up and so events like this are critical to our ability to serve these folks in need,' says Michael Ledger of Feeding The Gulf Coast. Last week, our partners for Stock the Pantry picked up their red barrels to be able to collect donations of food—and that's where you come in. We're asking you to partner with us as well and donate food for Stock the Pantry and Feeding the Gulf Coast. The organization says your donations do make a difference. 'A program like this is going to make sure a child has food over the weekend and during the summer when those cafeterias are closed—the pantrys we work with, amazing partners we have all across our community, are going to have the food they need on their shelves when that family, that child comes in that needs the help–they're going to have the food they need.' Ledger says Stock the Pantry is an important awareness tool as well. Many people may not know about the level of hunger some children are facing. Rebecca Mullins is keenly aware of it though—she's on the front lines at Murphy High School where she operates a food bank in the school to help kids on the weekends during the school year, and during the summer. 'What we do during the summertime is any of our teachers who are working summer school,' Mullins says. 'I collaborate with them so that they know where our food stockpile is located so that they can offer the children anything that they need from what we have in our pantry over the summer.' We hope you'll help us Stock the Pantry–Just look for the red barrels at any of our partner locations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal funding cuts hit Feeding the Gulf Coast food bank
THEODORE, Ala. (WKRG) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has ended the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, cutting over $1 billion in federal funding to food banks across the country. Feeding the Gulf Coast serves three states and 24 counties. President and CEO Michael Ledger told WKRG News 5 that the impacts of the lack of funding will hit hard within the next couple of months. Spring Hill College ends stipends to SGA members due to ongoing budget issues 'Unfortunately, hunger rates continue to rise, and so the food we need today is greater than ever,' Ledger said. In the past year, the food bank hit a new record of providing 35 million meals to those in need. Five million of those meal boxes are funded through federal programs like LFPA. 'It seems unlikely that we are going to meet that record again,' Ledger said. LFPA helped provide funds for food banks to purchase fresh produce from local small farmers. Over 35% of their food supplies are fresh produce. 'It has made a great difference locally to buy from a farmer down the street, get it here and then into the hands of a neighbor in need,' Ledger said. Ledger said he hopes the Trump administration will recognize the empty shelves and the need to feed the hungry and will find a solution. WEATHER ALERT: Severe storms likely Saturday into Saturday night Right now, he is calling on the community to help donate and volunteer their time. 'Together we are going to fight our way through this and meet the need,' Ledger said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Compensation call for traders over Hull A63 roadworks delay
A business leader is calling for financial compensation for traders affected by delays to a major city centre road on a £355m redesign of Castle Street was due to be completed by April, but National Highways announced in December it was likely to finish by spring Shillito, the executive director of Hull Business Improvement District (Hull BID), said: "For businesses that are already struggling, it's another nail in the coffin."National Highways said it was "working hard to reduce the impact of the scheme on businesses". Ms Shillito warned the delays would leave some businesses financially worse off and called for financial support from National was an awareness of "the long-term benefits" of the A63 Castle Street scheme, but the year-long delay was creating "more hardship for businesses"."It's very difficult, very challenging times and we really need that help," she added.A director of Seasider Seafoods, which is based in English Street adjacent to the works, said the family-run business had suffered "a significant decline in sales over the last few years".Michael Ledger described the prospect of further disruption as very worrying. "I don't feel like I've had any significant conversations with anybody who can give me an answer to what support there is," he said. "We get passed from pillar to post. "We're told work is in progress and we'll feel the benefits in the long run, but can we survive that long?"Last December, the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce called for a £1m fund to help local businesses Ross, the leader of Hull City Council, said he had written a letter to the transport secretary in December asking for "direct intervention" to speed up the project and assist businesses."Given the importance of this scheme to the city, given the scale of this project, I felt it was important that the Transport Secretary heard directly from us around this and I wrote to her as soon as the news broke," he said. "Sadly, several weeks on, I'm still yet to get a response." Fran Oliver, a senior project manager at National Highways, described the road scheme as a "complex" one that would "bring benefits" for all in the city."We have engaged with local businesses and stakeholders throughout the A63 Castle Street scheme and continue to do so," she had been taken to minimise impact, including "two lanes of traffic running in each direction". "We have also limited weekend closures and used night-time closures as much as possible. Where we've been able to do so, we've delayed the start time of these closures to support the night-time economy," she added. "We've also used signage to let people know traders remain open as usual." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
