Latest news with #Philabundance
CBS News
08-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
$1 billion in USDA cuts trickling down to food pantry in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
Local organizations are feeling the effects of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's $1 billion cut in assistance. The cuts include $420 million to Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement, a program that helps food banks, and $660 million to Local Food for Schools, a program that feeds hungry school children. At Murphy's Giving Market , a food pantry in Upper Darby that serves about 3,000 people a month, the cuts are starting to trickle down. "I'm extremely worried because a lot of our funding comes from the federal government by way of food banks," Desiree Murphy-Morrissey, the founder of the food pantry, said. "If they're cut and we already don't have food right now to feed people, how much less will we have then?" Murphy-Morrissey said 25% of her pantry's food comes from the food bank Philabundance. "Philabundance learned that over 85% of our TEFAP [The Emergency Food Assistance Program] food deliveries have been unprecedentedly cancelled for the remainder of the fiscal year," Elka Murillo, chief external affairs officer for Philabundance, said. "This is food that we had already ordered and were counting on receiving. Over $525,000 worth of food now lost." Tariffs on imports are another challenge facing hunger relief organizations. Murphy-Morrissey said most of the produce at her food pantry comes from Canada and Mexico. "Food prices are so high now, and with the expected tariffs, it's going to be even higher, which means we are able to purchase less," Murphy-Morrissey said. A third challenge is that Congress is considering cuts to programs that some food pantry clients use, like Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Despite the uncertainty, volunteer Michael D'Angelo said families are grateful. "Everybody has been extremely appreciative," D'Angelo said. "Nothing but smiles in the midst of pain and hunger and struggle." D'Angelo is urging people to write letters to their representatives to voice support for the pantry, which is ramping up fundraising efforts. For now, he said he will continue his work of stamping out hunger.
CBS News
27-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Millions in funds for Pennsylvania farms and food banks, including Philabundance, in jeopardy as USDA ends program
Philabundance, the largest food bank in the Philadelphia region, will now have to look at how to fill a million-dollar hole. This comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced earlier this month it is terminating the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. "We're going to be losing about $1.5 million, about 18% of our food-sourcing budget," said Dorothy Wong with Philabundance. "This is probably one of the most significant reductions we've seen in a really long time." The program provides funding for food banks to buy produce, dairy and meats from local vendors, and state leaders say the cuts will have impacts across Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, the head of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank said the organization stands to lose nearly $2 million in funding and that around 500,000 fewer meals a month would go out. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro set his sights on the administration's decision this week. "Pennsylvania farmers and food banks are owed $13 million, and I won't stand by and let our farmers get screwed," Shapiro said Tuesday from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. That $13 million is how much the state stands to lose in funding over the three-year contract it says it signed with the USDA in December 2024. But it isn't just food banks impacted by the cuts. This week, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture sent a list of 189 farms across Pennsylvania to the USDA that could be impacted by the loss of funding. These farms, the governor's office says, benefited from LFPA funding. One farm on that list is Living Hope Farm in Harleysville. "It's a shame that this funding is being pulled away from small-scale farms and the mission of building a local food system," said Sam Chronister, manager at the farm. Chronister says Living Hope has been open since around 2010 and grows a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables. They also have a focus on filling food pantry shelves, with Chronister saying the farm donated more than 3,000 pounds of food to local food banks last year. Around 20% of the farm's operation comes from various grants, according to Chronister. And while he didn't put an exact number of the impact losing LFPA money would have, he says every bit of money coming in matters, especially for small farms. "It's already difficult, grants are already competitive. And taking that away is going to push us to find some other ways to make some money," Chronister said. The cuts come at a time when the Trump administration is focused on slashing federal spending and the size of the federal government as a whole . A spokesperson for the USDA said in part, "As a pandemic-era program, the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) will now be sunsetted at the end of the performance period, marking a return to long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives. This isn't an abrupt shift—earlier this month, USDA released over half a billion in previously obligated funds for LFPA and LFS to fulfill existing commitments and support ongoing local food purchases." "With 16 robust nutrition programs in place, USDA remains focused on its core mission: strengthening food security, supporting agricultural markets, and ensuring access to nutritious food," the spokesperson said in the statement. The letter sent to USDA by Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding says the agency's termination notice said the contract "no longer effectuates agency priorities." "It's hard for me to see how partnering with our farmers and feeding people doesn't align with the federal government's priorities," Shapiro said. The governor on Tuesday called the termination of the contract between the state and USDA "unlawful," and said they have moved to appeal the decision. Shapiro said his administration would consider legal options if the USDA refused to rescind the termination.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump funding cut creates challenges for Philly's largest hunger-relief organization
The Brief Food banks all across the country are sounding the alarm on the federal funding cuts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Lawmakers say, in some cases, the cuts are leading to a shortage of over 600,000 meals. The concern is whether there is a demand for assistance, stemming from high food prices. NORTH PHILADELPHIA - The region's largest hunger-relief organization sees challenges ahead after a cut in a program allowing for the purchase of local food including fresh produce. What we know Empty shelves in the sprawling Philabundance warehouse in North Philly are a sign of the times. As its over 300 community organizations see the need for food growing, they ask for more. Dorothy Wong is the Chief Partnerships and Strategy officer for Philabundance. Walking in the aisles of the warehouse, she said, "Food is just moving in and moving out as they order it. We're placing it on orders, we're getting it out to all our community partners." The backstory Philabundance feeds 120 to 150,000 households weekly and moves some 50 million pounds of food every 12 months. Based in the poorest of the country's 10 biggest cities, an official with Philabundance said a recent Trump Administration cut of the $470 million Local Food Purchase Assistance program means a $1.5 million hit. Wong explained, "So, really what that means for us is decreasing the amount of resources to provide food for families in need at a critical moment when we see the need is growing." Dig deeper The local food purchase program did just that - allowed for the buying of food, often fresh produce, from local growers. In a statement, a U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesperson writes, "As a pandemic-era program, LFPA will now be sunsetted at the end of the performance period, marking a return to long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives." USDA adds it remains focused on its core mission including ensuring access to nutritious food. Big picture view Back at Philabundance, Wong says potential slashes to food stamps and school lunch programs are big concerns as it looks to its donors to close funding gaps and keep an eye on tariffs. Wong said, "Actually, where we purchase the most produce is Canada so really understanding those tariffs - our dollar is just not going to go as far at this point." What you can do More information about Philabundance can be found on their website, here.
