CLEVELAND, Ohio – Families across Northeast Ohio could face more food insecurity as the Greater Cleveland Food Bank braces for a loss of millions of pounds of food amid the Trump administration’s funding cuts, and its potential cancellation this week of 20 semi-truck loads of food deliveries.
The losses are tied to two federal food programs. One, canceled by the federal government last week, had paid for locally-grown produce and protein deliveries to nearby food banks. The second, known as the Emergency Food Assistance program, ships fresh food to food banks, including high-protein items such as meat, according to local leaders.
With state and federal assistance shrinking, food bank leaders warn that their ability to provide for the region’s most vulnerable residents, many of whom are already struggling to put meals on the table, could be severely impacted.
Over the last few weeks, at least three million pounds of food that the food bank expected to receive this year has either been canceled, or is at risk of cancellation, Greater Cleveland Food Bank President and CEO Kristin Warzocha said.
One of the largest blows so far came in recent days, when Cleveland food bank leaders discovered that 20 semi-truck deliveries, as part of the Emergency Food Assistance program, appear to have been halted. Each truck carries about 100,000 pounds of food — roughly the same amount that’s distributed to Northeast Ohioans each week, Warzocha said.
As of March 17, 20 out of 21 Commodity Credit Corporation orders placed by the food bank as part of the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program were marked as “returned,” a status that usually indicates a high risk of cancellation, according to Warzocha.
“We hope and pray these 20 loads are not canceled. This is causing us great concern because we need this product, and we need our partnership with the USDA to continue and to be a strong one in order to make sure that our community is fed,” she said. “We are nervous to say the least.”
The food bank, which serves six counties and partners with 1,000 local agencies, relies heavily on food provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Warzocha said. Food bank leaders from six states, including Ohio, recently told Politico that the Agriculture Department had halted millions of dollars worth of deliveries.
Warzocha said the USDA has not provided an explanation for the changes in food order status.
Last year, about 46% of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s distributed food came from the state and federal governments. However, recent changes to federal food assistance programs could significantly impact the organization’s ability to meet growing community needs, in a city that has one of the highest poverty rates in the U.S.
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, the USDA last week eliminated the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools Programs, which had allowed food banks to purchase locally grown food for distribution.
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank had expected to receive approximately one million pounds of food through that program this year, and that’s on top of the 20 semi-truck loads now at risk of cancellation.
Additionally, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed budget includes a significant reduction in state funding for food banks, moving from $32 million to $24.5 million, a decrease of $7.5 million.
“We’re actively looking for as much nutritious food as we can possibly bring in,” Warzocha said. “To have a program like LFPA eliminated, and have additional food orders status change or rescheduled certainly is cause for significant concern. We simply cannot meet the need for food, particularly now without the USDA’s partnership and support.”
If the cancellations move forward, Warzocha said the food bank could struggle to fill the gap.
“LFPA was mostly beautiful fresh produce and protein so we certainly will miss not having that product that is so healthy, grown locally. That will be a loss,” Warzocha said. “And in these order loads that might be canceled, there’s a lot of protein items, like turkey or pork, and the fact is that those are really important. They can stretch a long way. They would be very expensive for us to replace, and they’re hard to get donated.”
The potential cuts come as food insecurity remains high. Each truckload of food plays a vital role in serving the 424,000 individuals who relied on the food bank last year, including 100,000 first-time recipients.
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank has launched its annual Harvest for Hunger campaign, urging local businesses and residents to contribute.
Warzocha said the organization is also advocating for restored funding at the state and federal levels. She recently met with officials in Columbus and Washington, D.C. to push for continued support for food banks and hunger relief programs.
“We need a strong, bipartisan farm bill that invests in both farmers and nutrition programs,” she said. “… We can’t adequately support our community without robust public support from both the federal government and the state of Ohio.”
U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown, a Warrensville Heights Democrat whose district includes the food bank, called the federal funding “critical.” Some of the money was initially announced by President Joe Biden’s administration to support farmers, food assistance programs, and farm economies. In a statement, Brown said the cuts are outrageous.
“These investments were meant to provide stability for small and mid-sized farmers, ensure families have access to nutritious meals, and strengthen local food systems. The clawing back of $500 million for [Emergency Food Assistance Program] , which supports food banks in serving millions of Ohioans, is cruel and shortsighted. Instead of helping Ohioans, Trump is hurting them,” she said.
Warzocha encouraged anyone in need of food assistance to visit the food bank’s website or call its help center for connections to local partner agencies.
“We will continue to be here to provide support. We’re doing everything in our power to provide as much healthy food as possible,” she said.
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