Alarm bells rang across the country when the USDA announced cuts to funding for food banks. Fears grew that shelves would run empty, depriving needy Americans of healthy food.
This April 2 update from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank is excellent news. Not only does it explain that new shipments will indeed be delivered to food banks around the country, but it also clears up some misconceptions in previously published articles.
Food banks across the country learned from Feeding America that the USDA has identified additional funds to make food purchases to support food banks! We’re pleased to know that, starting in June, there will be additional food coming, including fresh and processed fruit, vegetables and nuts. The relationship between food banks and the USDA is a long-standing one that is critical to meeting the needs of people facing hunger. We appreciate the USDA’s continued support of both farmers and food banks.
In addition, food banks across the State still have the opportunity to advocate for restoration of funding that has been reduced in the State of Ohio budget, and we are working with members of the legislature in hopes of doing so.
We also want to clarify that the rumors circulating that USDA food intended for food banks was sitting on trucks and will now rot, or that truckloads were turned around mid-way to delivery, are false. Truckloads of food that were canceled were scheduled to be delivered between April – July 2025. No truckloads of donations were turned around. Food that had already been purchased by CCC is still being delivered. To our knowledge, no food is rotting or going to waste.
Please share this important update with everyone concerned about the food bank situation.
One of the things hoped to be derived by DOGE is that layers of bureaucracy will be removed. I'm of the opinion that by combining some programs where additional government workers were needed to administer them, funding that will directly go to recipients. One thing that is certain is that more bureaucrats and administrators never benefit recipients, only the bureaucrats and administrators.
Thank you for clearing this up. I knew in my gut that this could not be true. It’s just that everyone wants to think the worst…🙄 It sounds like the food banks might get healthier food?!