Food Banks And Hungry Americans Need A Farm Bill This Year
Inventory Dwindles As 35 Million Americans Struggle With Hunger
CHICAGO --- November 19, 2007 --- As most Americans are preparing Thanksgiving menus, the Senate adjourned on Friday after stalling debate on a Farm Bill that could bring much needed relief to food banks and hungry Americans. Meanwhile, 35 million Americans, including 12.6 million children, are struggling with hunger and inventories at food banks are rapidly dwindling.
“Every day that a Farm Bill is not enacted, is a day that food banks shelves continue to go empty,” said Vicki Escarra, president and chief executive officer for America’s Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network. “It's tragic that as we enter this holiday season, millions of people are turning to soup kitchens and food pantries for food, and resources at food banks nationwide are shockingly scarce.”
Food banks are suffering as a result of a more than 70 percent decline in support from a federal food aid program in recent years. Strong agricultural markets have led to drastic reductions in food purchased and distributed by the Federal government.
“Over the past few years, our food banks have experienced a steady decline in the value of food provided by the federal government. Last year alone, food banks and emergency feeding organizations received $175 million less than they did just three years ago. We need a strong nutrition title in the Farm Bill this year,” said Escarra.
The House of Representatives passed its version of a Farm Bill in July that would provide more than $4 billion in new investment in federal nutrition programs and boost the currently sparse supply of commodities available through the nation’s charitable food distribution system. Specifically, it would raise current levels of mandatory support for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to $250 million annually and index the amount for inflation. The Senate is expected to resume debate on its version of the bill following the current Thanksgiving recess.
According to Escarra, “Hunger is a solvable problem, but the charitable sector cannot do it alone. Government commodities are among the most nutritious and needed food products that we distribute. I commend the hard work of many of our Congressional leaders and urge them to pass the Farm Bill and bring home a victory for hungry Americans.”
America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank Network is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through its network of more than 200 member food banks, America's Second Harvest annually provides assistance to more than 25 million people in need, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each year, America's Second Harvest secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of food and grocery products to support feeding programs at approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. To learn more, please visit www.secondharvest.org.
###
Contact:
Ross Fraser
Office: 312.641.6422
Cell: 312.307.8470
