USDA approves $1.5 billion for food banks

LORAIN — Nearly $1.5 billion in funding for emergency food purchases will be provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2023, helping to feed Americans who are struggling to make ends meet. About $50 million is expected to come to Ohio, where food banks have seen record-breaking demand since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We're trying to feed more people with less food," said Julie Chase-Morefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio. "That equation just doesn't work out." The Baumhart Road-based nonprofit has seen its food budget explode. In 2018, it spent around $600,000 to stock its warehouse, and today that amount has grown to $2 million. At the same time, donations from food manufacturers and retailers has plummeted, Chase-Morefield said. Companies have been hit by material shortages and worker shortages, moving donations down the priority list. They've struggled with less cardboard to make boxes and less aluminum to make cans. They've also been hit by avian flu and high gas prices. "All of these things together are creating huge challenges," Chase-Morefield said. Since late February, Second Harvest has seen a 50 percent drop-off across its food sources, including the USDA, she said. It's the same supply chain nightmare that is plaguing school cafeterias. This week, the Ohio Association of Foodbanks issued a joint statement in response to the USDA's plan to relieve shortfalls. "For many months, our food banks have been strained nearly to a breaking point," it said. "Some are operating in deficit budgets, purchasing food just to keep enough balanced products on the shelves for our hunger-relief partner organizations and the people we serve together. We have been buying more privately purchased food than ever before, at record prices." The association's executive director, Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, said the network has provided take-home groceries nearly 10 million times since the start of the pandemic. USDA foods are an especially important lifeline for rural and under-resourced communities where poverty and hunger rates are higher. Chase-Morefield said Second Harvest, which is an Ohio Association of Foodbanks member, is still seeing huge crowds turn out at pantries, hot meal programs and mobile giveaways. So far this year, Second Harvest has fed 91,400 people — a figure that doesn't include repeat customers. The USDA relief is a step in the right direction, but "it does not solve all of our problems," she said. Even with the increased federal funding available in early 2023, delays in the order and delivery process mean Second Harvest probably won't start seeing the benefits until March, she said. In the meantime, Chase-Morefield believes the fall could be difficult for Northeast Ohio. The food Second Harvest received in August was about half the normal amount, and she expects grocery store prices to get more expensive going into the holidays. The Thanksgiving food stock could be sparse, she warned. Bird meat is in short supply, and Chase-Morefield believes turkeys could be hard to come by. Lorain County commissioners have already granted funds to Second Harvest to buy turkeys for its annual Thanksgiving distribution, she said. There are about 2,000 frozen turkeys in the nonprofit's warehouse right now, and another 1,000 are on the way. Chase-Morefield said in the meantime food banks are asking state legislators to use American Rescue Plan Act money to bridge the gap until federal money is available. "By matching this $50 million investment by USDA with $50 million in the state of Ohio's ARPA funds, Gov. (Mike) DeWine and members of the Ohio General Assembly can ensure that the Ohioans hardest hit by the pandemic and ongoing economic uncertainty can count on us for the help they need in the future," the Ohio Association of Foodbanks said. "Immediate ARPA funds will prevent a bleak holiday season, as well as help our network reinforce its storage and distribution capacity for the months ahead and support Ohio agriculture." Jason Hawk can be reached at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.