Indiana food banks brace for impact after USDA cuts $500M aid

INDIANAPOLIS — Food banks across the country and right here in Indiana are concerned about the potential impact of a major cut from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The reduction means fewer resources for families in need

At food banks like Gleaners, which serves 21 counties in Indiana, volunteers are constantly at work. That’s because one in eight Hoosiers in those counties are facing hunger.

The surge in need comes with a challenge.

The USDA has suspended $500 million in deliveries to food banks nationwide. This follows $1 billion in cuts to two USDA programs implemented during the Trump administration.

The cuts are leaving many struggling to figure out how to make up for the shortfall.

“It’s needing to know what’s coming that enables us to plan to determine whether we have enough food to serve families that come to see us or if we have to try to scramble to find another way,” said Emily Bryant, executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry.

Bryant said food banks rely on the consistency of the food deliveries from the USDA.

“That’s at a time when nearly two-thirds of our neighbors, the folks that we’re serving, aren’t eligible for other nutrition programs like SNAP and so they have few alternatives to turn to for help beyond the charitable food sector and the food that’s distributed by it,” she said.

She said last year, member food banks distributed nearly 140 million pounds of food. About 22% of that came from the USDA, about 20% is purchased and roughly 60% is donated from retail, manufacturers or farmers.

“Our members are constantly looking for new sources of donation, new avenues to purchase food at the levels we can afford to purchase and finding any avenue we can to get the food to who needs it,” Bryant said.

It’s a challenging situation for many families as food banks work to make sure they continue to meet the needs of Hoosier families in the future.