Latest news with #TheEmergencyFoodAssistanceProgram
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal cuts affect regional food access; more uncertainty to come
Ashley Baker, strategic initiatives coordinator at the Great Plains Food Bank, stocks food in a wellness pantry. (Courtesy of Great Plains Food Bank) Proposed cuts to the federal food assistance program are coming at a time when agencies addressing hunger in North Dakota are already facing lost revenue and increased need. 'There's a lot of uncertainty right now,' said Darby Njos, spokeswoman for Great Plains Food Bank in Fargo. 'We're still urging lawmakers to support programs that help people get back on their feet while knowing that the needs of people continue to shift.' The most recent hit to federal food assistance are proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Known as SNAP, this is a federally funded program that gives money for groceries to eligible low-income households – mostly older adults, people with disabilities, and families with children. A budget bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week would end federal nutrition benefits for millions and shift some costs to states, according to an analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The bill still needs to be considered by the U.S. Senate. More than 3 million people would lose SNAP benefits under GOP bill, nonpartisan report says Great Plains Food Bank is the only food bank in North Dakota and distributes food to those in need throughout the state and Clay County, Minnesota. Earlier this year it lost about $1.3 million in funding and food because of federal cuts, Njos said. Some of those cuts were through a program that allowed the food bank to purchase meat and produce from local farmers. This year Great Plains Food Bank expected three rounds of funding, each around $1 million. The first round came through, the second round of funding was paused and then reinstated. The food bank has been informed it won't receive the third round, Njos said. 'We worked directly with several farmers, and we had to have some tough conversations,' she said. 'We don't have the ability to make those purchases without that funding.' In addition, the food bank will not receive summer deliveries of food through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). These deliveries equaled about $300,000 in food. The nonprofit was able to raise about $250,000 in private funds to help offset those losses, but the cuts are still felt. 'Those cuts impact our day-to-day work,' Njos said. 'We're working hard to fill in those gaps.' States on the hook for billions under U.S. House GOP bill making them help pay for SNAP In 2024, the food bank served 151,000 people in North Dakota and Clay County. About one-third of those served are children; 16% are seniors, Njos said. 'These are vulnerable populations that don't have a lot of options if they're hungry,' Njos said. 'You don't want them worrying about where to get their next meal.' About 28% of Great Plains Food Bank's food sourcing traditionally comes through government programs. While some funding and commodities are still being received, the loss of purchasing power strains resources. 'We've had to adapt quickly,' Njos said. 'These cuts are real, and they're being felt at every level.' Susie Boelter is executive director of North Country Food Bank, which serves part of Grand Forks County in North Dakota and 21 counties in northwestern and western Minnesota. This food bank has seen what Boelter calls 'staggering increases' of use over the past three years. Cutting federal food assistance would add to that need. 'If there are cuts to SNAP that would have a huge impact on us,' Boelter said. 'For every meal we provide (through the food bank), SNAP provides nine.' North Country Food Bank has seen some shifts in which federal contracts are funded but it hasn't seen a loss in overall federal revenue. Boelter said it's still time for additional help – not less. 'Any additional cuts will put a ton of pressure on our emergency food system,' she said. 'Food banks are good at getting food into the hands of people who need it, but it's time to sound the alarm.' One bright spot in food assistance is that federal funding for summer food programs remains in place, according to Melissa Anderson, assistant director for Child Nutrition and Food Distribution Programs at the state Department of Public Instruction. Two federal programs – Summer Food Service and the Summer EBT – provide nutrition for North Dakota students who have access to free and reduced-cost meals during the school year. This summer 42 schools and nonprofits are offering a free meal or snack at over 130 sites throughout North Dakota. In addition, the state Department of Public Instruction works with the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute EBT cards worth $120 to eligible students. Households have 120 days to use those dollars to purchase groceries, Anderson said. The state expects about 44,000 students will be eligible. These summer programs are successful in getting food to those who need it, and Anderson is optimistic the funding will remain. She also acknowledges that policies and funding streams can change quickly. 'Every day there's new information,' Anderson said. 'We're trying to stay positive but there are a lot of unknowns.' Lawmakers earlier this year approved $5 million in grant funding for the Great Plains Food Bank through the state Department of Agriculture to support the construction of a new statewide distribution center. The state's investment will be matched by private donations raised by the agency. The food bank is preparing to break ground in 2027. This investment reflects the region's commitment to taking care of their neighbors, Njos said. 'We've always thrived in times of crisis,' said Njos. 'North Dakotans stand up when their neighbors are in need, and we'll continue doing whatever it takes to ensure no one goes hungry.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Was Brett Favre Involved in the Mississippi Welfare Scandal? Inside One of the Biggest Public Fraud Cases in History
In 2020, Brett Favre was embroiled in the Mississippi welfare scandal The scandal exposed state employees who were taking money from funds dedicated to families in need for personal use and the use of high-profile athletes Favre was never arrested or charged in the case, but he was named as a defendant in a civil caseIn 2020, Brett Favre found himself at the center of the Mississippi welfare scandal. The fraud case made headlines when several Mississippi government employees were accused of embezzlement. The scheme, which became the biggest public fraud case in the state's history, was exposed after at least $77 million from a program helping poor families was misused. 'The funds that were illegally obtained in this case were intended to help the poorest among us," Mississippi state auditor Shad White said in February 2020 while announcing the charges, according to The New York Times. "The funds were instead taken by a group of influential people for their own benefit, and the scheme is massive. It ends today." Favre's name arose while authorities investigated where the money was redirected. In May 2020, a state audit revealed that the Hall of Famer was paid $1.1 million for speaking events where he was not present. Favre was also accused of working with state officials to redirect $5 million from the funds to build a volleyball stadium at the University of Southern Mississippi, his alma mater and the school where his daughter played the sport. The former Green Bay Packers athlete was never arrested or charged with a crime, but he had to pay the state back for the $1.1 million in unattended speaking event fees. He has denied any involvement in the fraud or any knowledge of where the money was coming from for the volleyball stadium, although prosecutors have suggested that text messages between Favre and one nonprofit director prove the former NFL star was aware of the scheme. Favre's history with the scandal was investigated in the Netflix documentary Untold: The Fall of Favre, which premiered May 20. Here's everything to know about the Mississippi Welfare Scandal and what happened to Brett Favre after he became a key figure in the case. The Mississippi Welfare Scandal is the biggest case of public fraud in state history, per WTOK. The scheme took place from 2016 to 2019 when $77 million from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) fund and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) were misappropriated and used on projects unrelated to helping Mississippi families. The scandal involved several high-profile state officials who were named in a lawsuit filed by the Mississippi state auditor. Former Mississippi Department of Human Services official John Davis was at the center of the scheme and eventually pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, per a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Davis was accused of misusing the funds for his "personal use and benefit." In September 2022, he was sentenced to 32 years in prison, according to PBS. The former head of the Mississippi Community Education Center, Nancy New, also pleaded guilty to wire fraud, bribery of a public official and racketeering. Nancy and her son Zachary, who also pleaded guilty to fraud and bribery, ran a nonprofit that obtained more than $2 million from state funding and used the money for their private lives. The mother-son duo both accepted plea deals which would ensure they only serve the time sentenced from the federal case, per Mississippi Today. In addition to Davis and the News, five other people were indicted in the scheme. Former professional wrestler Brett DiBiase was one of the key players arrested in 2020. He was accused of fraud and embezzlement for accepting money from the welfare agency to pay for his drug treatment at a rehabilitation facility in Malibu, Calif., according to Mississippi Today. In March 2023, DiBiase pleaded guilty to one federal charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States. He could face up to five years in prison, but he has not been sentenced. As of September 2023, all seven criminal defendants in the case remained out of prison as federal litigation was ongoing, per Mississippi Today. In May 2020, it was revealed that $5 million of TANF funds were used to help build a volleyball arena at Favre's alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter also played the sport. In 2022, a text message between Favre and New from five years prior became public. In the 2017 text, Favre asked New, "If you were to pay me is there anyway the media can find out where it came from and how much?" Favre has denied all wrongdoing and said that he was unaware where the government funds were coming from. "I have been unjustly smeared in the media. I have done nothing wrong, and it is past time to set the record straight," he said in a 2022 statement, per Fox News. "No one ever told me, and I did not know, that funds designated for welfare recipients were going to the University or me." In addition to the volleyball stadium, Favre was also named in the scheme for two other multimillion-dollar payments. State auditors claimed that $1.7 million from TANF had gone toward developing a treatment for concussions at a company supported by Favre, per NBC News. Favre was also accused of receiving $1.1 million for speeches he did not make. He denied all allegations. In September 2024, Favre testified in front of the Congress' House Ways and Means Committee about advocating for additional ways to protect TANF funds. 'Instead, I'm here to share what I've now seen up close, about how reforms are needed to stop the misspending of TANF funds," he said at the time. Although he was there to focus on additional guardrails, Favre also revealed that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Favre was never arrested or charged in the Mississippi Welfare Scandal. However, in May 2022, the Mississippi state auditor named Favre as one of the defendants in a civil lawsuit filed in an attempt to regain the misappropriated funds. Shortly afterwards, Favre's legal team filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit and claimed that the lawsuit was attempting to use his status as a "national celebrity" to "deflect responsibility" from the government, according to CNN. In April 2023, a judge denied the dismissal and ruled that Favre would continue as one of the defendants. His spokesperson later said that Favre was "disappointed in the court's ruling," per The Washington Post. Just one month later, a local judge filed a gag order and demanded that all parties not speak about the case ahead of the trial, according to The Magnolia Tribune. As of July 2024, a trial date for the civil lawsuit has not been set, per The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Favre also filed a defamation suit against the state auditor, White, for statements he made surrounding the case, per the Associated Press. Shortly after the misappropriated funds came to light, Favre repaid the $1.1 million he allegedly received for the speaking events he didn't attend, per the AP. He repaid $500,000 in May 2020 and the remaining $600,000 in October 2021. However, the state auditor claimed that Favre never paid interest and sued him in 2024 for an unpaid $729,000, according to Forbes. Mississippi state attorneys have also claimed that Favre never repaid the $1.7 million they alleged was invested in the concussion treatment company or the $5 million allegedly given to the University of Southern Mississippi's volleyball stadium, according to The Guardian. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mid-Cumberland Community Action Agency to host food giveaway
ROBERTSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — On Friday, Robertson County residents will be able to participate in a food giveaway event. The Mid-Cumberland Community Action Agency is hosting the event from 8 a.m. until noon at 505 Hill Street in Springfield. Leaders said the event, at which volunteers will distribute a variety of nonperishable foods, is part of the organization's ongoing commitment to help those in the area who face food insecurity. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More 'We are dedicated to supporting our community and ensuring that no one goes hungry,' Katie Fulton, Community Services Director for MCCAA, said. 'This food giveaway is a testament to the strength and generosity of our community, and we are grateful for the support of our volunteers and partners.' If you wish to attend the event, you'll have to register for The Emergency Food Assistance Program, but no additional documentation is necessary. You can call MCAA at 615-742-1113 for registration help. The organization is also searching for volunteers; you can follow this link to fill out a volunteer registration form. If you have questions about the distribution, or about volunteer opportunities, you can contact Chelsea Manning. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dr. Nirav Shah speaks on hunger at naming ceremony for Midcoast food warehouse
May 9—The Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program revealed a new name for its warehouse and administrative building on Thursday with a speech from former Maine and US public health official Dr. Nirav Shah. MCHPP's Brunswick Landing facility was named the Wright Center for Food Security, after donor Tom Wright, whose contribution allowed the organization to officially purchase the facility last year. Speakers at Thursday's event touched on the importance of food security programs amid a growing cost of living and federal cuts that have threatened to handicap food banks and other organizations that aid underserved populations. "If we're not able to feed people, then we really have to question what it means to have a community," Shah said. Shah, who now works as a visiting professor at Colby College in Waterville, became the face of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic and went on to become the principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under President Joe Biden. He gained a following among Mainers due to his daily television briefings in which he explained the coronavirus to the public and fielded journalists' questions. While the number of Mainers experiencing food insecurity is increasing, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has cut key programs that provide food to states, like The Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. "The demand for services at the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program saw its highest spike ever, just in the fist few months of this year alone," Shah told the crowd outside of MHPP's facility. "And so the work that is being done is more critical than ever, not just for all of the families that are affected, but for all our us; not just for public health, but for our community as a whole." Despite federal cuts and the impact of inflation, MCHPP executive director Hannah Chatalbash said the organization distributed more than 1.2 million meals last year. This was made possible through volunteers and donors like Wright, she said. "You helped us expand our partnerships with local farms and markets. You made it possible for us to invest in education and outreach and innovative solutions that don't just fill plates, but empower lives," Chatalbash said. "The Wright Center is more than a building, it's a symbol of what can happen when a community comes together." Shah asked audience members to consider the question: "What do we owe each other?" "Increasingly, it's becoming more common to say that the answer to that question is that we owe each other nothing," Shah said. "The more I thought about these issues, the more you realize that the answers to these problems start in our own communities." Also speaking Thursday, Wright said it has been "a privilege" to contribute to MCHPP's mission. "There is no amount of money, ingenuity, legislating, or political maneuvering that will make up for the deficit of human decency, brotherliness and heartfelt goodwill," Wright said. "This is, however, the very fabric of what Mid Coast Hunger Prevention does: human decency, brotherliness, and heartfelt goodwill." Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Iowa receives federal waiver for summer nutrition program
USDA approved a waiver from Iowa to implement its own program to distribute food to families in need over the summer. (Photo by Lance Cheung/USDA) The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the Healthy Kids Iowa demonstration project in lieu of the federal government's summer nutrition program for children, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday. A press release from the governor's office called the program an alternative to the federal program that will feed children 'healthier foods at a lower cost.' According to the release, Healthy Kids Iowa will leverage partnerships with summer feeding programs and community providers that have more than 500 access points across the state. In a video posted to her social media accounts, Reynolds said the program will allow eligible families to select $40 of 'fresh, nutritious food' each month from the access points. 'We're going to focus on easy to prepare meals for kids, without compromising nutrition,' Reynolds said in the video. The distribution sites will offer a selection of foods each month that are 'healthy and kid friendly' according to the press release. Families with children aged 4 to 18 and with household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level are eligible for the program. For a household of four, that represents an annual income of around $57,700 or lower. Access points are determined by Feeding America Food Banks that will identify 'areas of need' throughout Iowa. Families will apply for the program with The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP, application. Iowa is one of only 11 states not participating in the federal program, known as SUN Bucks, this summer, according to USDA. The state also opted out of the program in 2024, and instead chose to expand the number of summer meal sites in the state. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins applauded Reynolds for what she called an 'historic step.' 'We are encouraging governors across the entire country to explore creative ways to provide food for those in need while also doing right by the American tax payer,' Rollins said in a video statement. According to Des Moines Area Religious Council, this $900,000 expansion in 2024 still left an estimated 54% of Iowa school districts without a meal site in 2024. The SUN Bucks program is also called the Summer EBT, or electronic benefits transfer, program because funds are distributed on EBT cards monthly, allowing recipients to shop at eligible stores. The SUN Bucks program provides $120 to families per eligible school-aged child during the summer. Children who qualify for free or reduced school lunches, or families who already participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are eligible for SUN Bucks. According to USDA in 2024 when the program launched, it represented a $100 million investment. Reynolds has opposed the federal SUN Bucks program for fear that it would lead to unhealthy food purchases and worsen childhood obesity. in August 2024, Iowa submitted a waiver request as part of an effort to implement a program similar to Healthy Kids Iowa, which the USDA denied. Reynolds said in November she would try again for a waiver, hoping for an outcome in her favor under the Trump administration. Food security advocates then urged the governor to instead apply for the demonstration project in tandem with the federally available program. Iowa Hunger Coalition, in a statement Wednesday, said it was concerned about the barriers Healthy Kids Iowa might place on families trying to access it, and on the 'feeding organizations who are already experiencing record-breaking levels of need.' 'We continue to believe that the best way to serve Iowa's low-income kids during the summer is through evidence-based USDA summer meal programs: summer meal sites, grab 'n go sites, and Summer EBT, or SUN Bucks,' the statement read. The coalition said the distribution of summer nutrition funds via EBT, per the SUN Bucks program, reaches families who live in rural communities or have working parents who might not be able to make it to a food pantry or feeding center during its operating hours. 'As further details are released about the Healthy Kids Iowa Pilot Program we hope these concerns are addressed to ensure that each and every child who qualifies is served and has their individual nutritional needs met by the program,' the statement read. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
