Clark County Meals Financial institution leaders are assessing the impression of cuts to native meals help after the Trump administration revoked almost $5 million in emergency meals help for Washington on March 25.
The U.S. Division of Agriculture’s emergency meals program will not present rooster, turkey breasts, canned rooster, dried plums, dried cranberries and milk for meals banks in Washington over the subsequent few months, in line with The Spokesman-Evaluation.
“We are actively working with the Washington State Department of Agriculture and other partners to understand the potential long-term effects and identify solutions to continue serving those in need,” Beck mentioned. “Our priority remains ensuring that individuals and families in Clark County have reliable access to nutritious food.”
Clark County Meals Financial institution works with 50 companies and 100 distribution websites to supply emergency meals aid with wholesome and culturally related selections, whereas additionally addressing the underlying causes of starvation.
Beck mentioned 5 of the meals financial institution’s funding sources — totaling greater than $900,000 — have been paused or eradicated over the subsequent biennium.
Federal cuts have hit the meals financial institution’s suppliers, too.
John Spencer of Get-To-Collect Farm in Washougal had a $30,000 contract with Clark County Meals Financial institution by way of the USDA’s Native Meals Buy Help program, which started in 2022.
This system aimed to keep up and enhance agricultural provide chain resiliency by buying meals from native farms. The meals was then distributed by way of starvation aid retailers, in line with the state Division of Agriculture.
The USDA eradicated this system in early March.
“My contract is not going to be renewed next year because that money was cut,” Spencer mentioned.
Spencer mentioned that the elimination of this system is “a huge loss” to Clark County Meals Financial institution and the individuals who use it.
“This was one of the few programs that got fresh food into a food bank,” he mentioned. “Food banks are usually filled with (things like) Cheerios. … But people need fresh food.”
Greater than 120,000 individuals in Clark County expertise meals insecurity, in line with the meals financial institution. It manages 8 million kilos of meals annually, which equals 6.7 million meals for individuals experiencing starvation.
“During times of uncertainty, Clark County has always stepped up to take care of its neighbors,” Beck mentioned. “We encourage everyone to check in on one another, support their local food pantry or food bank, and participate however they can — whether that means inviting someone over for dinner, volunteering time or donating funds. Small acts of kindness and community support make a big difference.”
