$665k worth of food canceled at Seagate
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - The USDA has paused half of its funding from its commodity credit corporation, nearly $500 million worth. Those funds provided additional resources for emergency food programs across the nation.
Food banks are now losing money that they use every day to serve those in need.
Dozens of volunteers come to the Seagate Food Bank to help those in need. After all, it takes a village to help more than 150,000 people in nine counties every single month.
Though there are smiles and laughter that come with helping others, Tuesday brought shock and silence.
Mindy Rapp, the executive director at Seagate, received an email stating that “Requisition/redistribution documents were changed.” Which meant orders that were already approved and on their way to the food bank had been called off.
Tuesday, the nonprofit had 19 loads, equating to $655,000 worth of food canceled.
“And the sad part is, all of these loads were protein, so meats and dairy, fresh milk, fresh eggs, all things people can not afford right now,” Rapp said.
Rapp believes the cancellations are tied to funds being cut from the Emergency Food Assistance programs throughout the nation.
At a time when shelves run bare and fridges are nearly empty, Rapp said she is hungry for answers.
“I don’t know if I’m going to get an answer. But, I know I am going to keep asking until they get tired of me. These are the most vulnerable people in our country and to take food out of their mouths is just something I can not even wrap my brain around,” Rapp said.
With the cuts in some of their most used funds, Rapp said that donations are what is going to have to keep their clients from missing meals.
“It is always going to be important. But, this time, it is vital,” Rapp said.
Despite the uncertain future for the food bank, Rapp remains steadfast in her mission in her team and in Northwest Ohio.
“We have a great community that we live in here. They have never let us down, so I have faith,” Rapp said.
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