In North King County, as across Western Washington, the rising costs of both food and fuel are having devastating effects on food banks, meal programs and the low-income families and individuals they serve. While there is a chance for hope in the federal legislation known as the Farm Bill, the bill has been stalled in Congress for months.
Here at Food Lifeline, Washington’s largest hunger relief organization, we have been hit hard by a 1.5 million pound decrease since 2003 in the amount of federally donated food we receive through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) each year. Years ago these staple food items, including rice, canned tuna, peanut butter and green beans, used to provide a consistent base for nonprofit programs such as Hopelink’s Shoreline Food Bank. Today, these stocks in our warehouse are sparse.
The good news is that both the U.S. House and Senate included a significant increase in funding for TEFAP in their versions of the federal Farm Bill. The Farm Bill includes a Nutrition Title which funds and governs most of the major federal hunger-relief programs, including the Food Stamp Program and TEFAP. However, although the bill was due for reauthorization in 2007, a final version has not been approved.
Each day that the cost of food rises, the current funding for TEFAP falls further and further from reality. When Congress reconvenes this week, we urge them to pass a reauthorized Farm Bill that includes critical increased TEFAP funding and a strong Nutrition Title. Hungry people in our communities cannot wait.
Linda Nageotte, President/CEO
Food Lifeline
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