In The News

USDA announces $1 Billion for hunger relief and local food systems

Last month, USDA released its annual study measuring food security in the U.S.

“These investments come at a critical time for food banks and Texas families, as more than 1 in 6 households experience food insecurity across our state," said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks. "The Feeding Texas network applauds USDA’s investment in these key hunger-fighting programs. TEFAP is the cornerstone of emergency food assistance, accounting for over 20% of the Texas food bank network’s food supply. The LFPA program has allowed Texas food banks to purchase food they would not normally be able to afford and has expanded economic opportunities for local farmers and producers in regions across the state.”

Source: News Channel 6

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Squeezed by inflation and politics, a Texas food bank gets creative to keep people fed

By Jayme Lozano Carver

Dina Jeffries, CEO of the South Plains Food Bank, said people can become vulnerable in a heartbeat, whether it be from job loss, an unexpected bill, or an emergency. Jeffries said communities are still feeling the impacts of the pandemic and inflation.

“If I’m going to the grocery store and saying ‘Ouch,’ I can’t imagine someone being food insecure,” Jeffries said.

Celia Cole is the CEO of Feeding Texas. Cole said more families have turned to food banks this summer. They are working with the Texas Department of Agriculture, which runs an existing summer meal program, but Cole says the food banks are being stretched thin.

“We’re struggling to keep up,” Cole said. “We’re feeling a lot of additional demand and turning over warehouses of food daily.”

Source: The Texas Tribune

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Stalemate in Congress puts Texas food stamp recipients in limbo

As Dallas-area food stamp recipients struggle to keep pace with the region’s skyrocketing cost of living, anti-hunger advocates are monitoring how partisan divisions in Congress are affecting the program’s future.

By Joseph Morton

Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, a nonprofit that works to end hunger, said the Thrifty Food Plan was crafted a half-century ago on assumptions that are now outdated.

For example, the plan assumes recipients primarily buy rice, milk, potatoes and eggs and spend two hours or more every day preparing food from scratch. Think soaking beans rather than buying them canned, she said.

The plan also was calculated with the idea people would spend about a third of their income on food. Housing, health care expenses and transportation costs have grown to consume a much larger portion of household budgets.

“Those assumptions were what were driving the basis for the Thrifty Food Plan, and yet we know consumption patterns have changed, dietary guidelines have changed,” Cole said. “The cost of food as a share of overall household expenses has changed.”

Source: The Dallas Morning News

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Here’s how Texas students, families can access free meals this summer

By Hannah Norton

Around two-thirds of Texas children rely on free or reduced-price lunch during the school year, Feeding Texas CEO Celia Cole said.

“When school shuts down, a lot of those kids lose access to the nutrition they need during the summer months,” Cole said. “And so typically, we see child hunger go up, and our food banks see that in their lines; they see an increase in families needing help feeding their kids—summer hunger is a real problem.”

In response, local governments, school districts and nonprofits across the state have partnered with the Texas Department of Agriculture to offer free meals and snacks to children age 18 and younger and students with disabilities up to 21 years old.

Source: Community Impact

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Favor Delivery and Feeding Texas Launch Summer Meals Campaign

“Feeding Texas is thrilled to partner with Favor to support our fight against summer hunger and ensure Texas kids have access to food year-round,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks. “We know that here in Texas, hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation. While summer should be a time of joy and relaxation for kids, it can also mean up to 90 days without reliable school meals that many kids depend on to thrive. When Texas kids lose out on school meals, food banks see hunger spike and increased need in their communities. We are grateful for this generous support from Favor and know that together, we can end summer hunger in Texas.”

Source: Yahoo Finance

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As millions wait on food stamp approvals, feds tell states to speed it up

Understaffed agencies shake off pandemic cobwebs, delaying aid sometimes for months.

By Alex Brown

“The state really prioritized Medicaid because they were anxious to remove people from the rolls,” she said. “But it’s more important to get people food who are eligible for SNAP than to kick people off Medicaid.”

With the slowdown in food aid, Cole’s organization has seen a 20% increase in requests for emergency food.

Source: https://stateline.org/2024/02/23/as-millions-wait-on-food-stamp-approvals-feds-tell-states-to-speed-it-up/

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