CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is the main supplier to the region's food assistance network for the four counties of Western Mass. As the USDA rolls back on funding, the Food Bank said they need more federal support, not less.
What You Need To Know
- The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received notice of its first federal funding cut this year. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) canceled food deliveries to the Food Bank through August, amounting to approximately $440,000 worth of food, according to the Food bank
- The USDA Northeast Regional Office confirmed last week Massachusetts’ $3.4 million allocation from the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Commodity Credit Corporation bonus food order was cancelled
- The Food Bank is also closely monitoring potential cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- The Food Bank supports a food assistance network of 194 food pantries, meal programs, and shelters across Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties
The Food Bank received notice of its first federal cut, about $440,000 worth of food through August.
“While it only represents 1% of the federally funded food that we receive," Andrew Morehouse said. "It's still a loss of meals, of healthy food to people who live with food insecurity.”
Executive Director Andrew Morehouse said now they’ll have to draw on their emergency reserve funds to purchase food they hadn't budgeted for.
“We're going to make up for the lost 185,000 meals," Morehouse said, "that were cut by way of the USDA's cancellation of deliveries through August of this year.”
Morehouse emphasized this is the first federal cut, saying agencies who address food insecurities are bracing for additional cuts to things like SNAP benefits.
“Any cuts to that program will impact 194,000 individuals who receive SNAP benefits in western Massachusetts," Morehouse said. "And if they don't receive those monthly benefits, they're going to turn to pantries and meal sites for food assistance. And that's going to put more pressure on the food bank. That's why we have to uphold our commitment to providing as much, if not more, food.”
For the Food Bank which distributes more than 17 million pounds of food to 194 sites in Massachusetts a year, Morehouse said they’ll continue to advocate for food security.
“We're so grateful to be situated here in Chicopee, MA, a part of Western Massachusetts where people care about their neighbors," Morehouse said. "We're going to continue to work with our partners from the federal and state governments, and the private food industry to get food into this warehouse and get it out to people who need it.”
The Food Bank said despite changes at the federal level, they'll remain committed to serving the nearly 200 local food pantries, meal sites and shelters they serve.
