Ozarks Food Harvest is set to lose an estimated $3 million worth of food this year following cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The USDA confirmed on March 28 that $500 million in food purchases for TEFAP, initially announced last year, have been permanently canceled.
As a result, the food bank will face a significant food gap this year, which will impact local communities in southwest Missouri where 1 in 5 children and 1 in 6 adults face hunger. TEFAP, which provides nutritious food to food banks across the nation, makes up about 25% of the food Ozarks Food Harvest distributes to its network of 270 local charities. A third of the canceled orders were protein items like beef, chicken, eggs, and pork, which are among the most expensive food items to secure.
While the USDA recently approved $261 million for bonus purchases of fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts to be distributed through TEFAP, it remains unclear when these orders will arrive.
To help meet the increased demand for food this year, Ozarks Food Harvest is asking for community support. Donations can be made online at ozarksfoodharvest.org. For every dollar donated, the food bank can provide $10 worth of groceries to families in need.
For more information, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org.
