Fed funds being cut 43% for food banks. 15 food pantries closing in Pittsburgh area

[JPZenger]

Last edited Mon Aug 12, 2013, 04:58 PM - Edit history (1)

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/881188_With-federal-funding-cuts-looming--Casey-seeks-help-for-food-banks.html

Conservatives love to talk about utilizing churches to serve the needy. The most successful program to utilize places of worship and volunteer labor has been through food pantries/food banks. They often use federal money to buy food in bulk and to warehouse and distribute donated food. The food is then distributed to needy persons by volunteers in churches and similar organizations. Thousands of food pantries are operating successfully in this manner, serving millions of Americans.

However, the feds are now cutting the funding for these food pantries by 43%. As noted in the link, Sen. Casey is working to try to restore most of the funding.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/funding-cuts-to-shut-15-food-pantries-698999/

As a result of these cuts, 15 food pantries are being shut down in the Pittsburgh area. More closings and more empty shelves will soon occur, and local groups will have to turn away people in need.

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http://times-news.com/local/x738622994/Cut-in-food-stamps-looms-for-Pa-residents

This cutback is occurring at the same time that the federal govt. is cutting everyone's food stamp (SNAP) benefit. The average cut will be $36 per month for a family of 4.

[progressoid]

1. ...

[mrmpa]

2. Beig unemloyed for near 3 years.............

I'm not able to use the local food pantry, because they use my 83 year old mother's income in figuring out if I'm eligible. I'm unable to put any money into our food allowance, so pickings are slim. However I have started using the "Produce to People" program. Having the veggies is great. I have made squash stew, zuchinni and banana breads, soups with the potatoes, the juice and yogurt I received is fantastic.

I'm afraid with these closings, there are going to be a lot more people unable to access the food they need to survive.

[CrispyQ]

4. "...there are going to be a lot more people unable to access the food they need to survive."

In our country. Can you believe it?

[CrispyQ]

3. THis just makes me want to cry.

"We're broke! We're broke!" we hear over & over on the media. We're not broke! This country is rich beyond belief! We only ever talk about cuts to spending & most of those to social programs. There is never discussion about new revenue streams, like a progressive income tax schedule, a stock transaction tax, raising the SS cap. They are vampires & they are going to suck us dry.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. You said everything that I was thinking

in a much more elegant and succinct way. For this country cry "poor" is a sin.