Florida meals banks really feel the sting of DOGE cuts
Miami — Earlier than dawn on a current Could day, staff on the Miami-area meals financial institution Feeding South Florida transfer, load and stack pallets of meals and family items onto vans.
With the assistance of volunteers, this flurry of exercise has allowed the group to distribute meals to 1.2 million individuals all through 4 Florida counties.
The meals goes to individuals like Rosalyn Budgett, who lives on a set earnings and involves Feeding South Florida each two months.
“I can get a balanced meal each day,” Budgett instructed CBS Information.
She says that with out the meals financial institution, “I might in all probability starve.”
However the support she depends on has been decreased. In March, the White Home’s Division of Authorities Effectivity minimize funding for about $1 billion price of U.S. Division of Agriculture packages. The 2 federal packages that had been minimize allowed faculties and meals banks to buy meals instantly from native farmers and producers.
“We have been seeing empty racks since February,” Paco Velez, CEO of Feeding South Florida, instructed CBS Information. “These cuts have actually made an impression, not simply on our capacity to serve, however on the households’ capacity to thrive in South Florida and throughout the nation.”
For Feeding South Florida, the cuts quantity to 40% of its $37 million annual finances.
“It is an unlucky scenario, as a result of we see that our households are determined,” Velez stated. “They’re coming in additional regularly than they ever have. And we’re making an attempt to take care of as a lot meals as we are able to. However there’s a little desperation.”
The road of vehicles for weekly meals distribution at Ebenezer Church in South Miami has solely gotten longer through the years.
Pastor Roberto Blanco, who will get a part of the availability from Feeding South Florida’s warehouse, is working with much less.
The scenario is affecting farmers too. East Coast Farm and Greens close to Parkland, Florida, partnered with Feeding South Florida to make use of federal {dollars} to select and pack surplus produce destined for households in want.
“This program…is a superb use of our tax {dollars},” stated Katelyn Garcia, vice chairman of East Coast Farm and Greens. “We’re not solely serving to our farmers…right here within the States, however you are additionally feeding households.”
With out the funds to course of the produce, farmers are hoping crops will not go to waste.
Says Garcia: “We all know that the top aim is to feed individuals and we have to work in the direction of that aim.”
Aimee Picchi
contributed to this report.
