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Federal Cuts Squeezing Food Pantries Shortages

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 March 2008, 06:00 CST

By Susan Abram

Federal cuts to pantries have forced some local agencies to turn away needy seniors who want to sign up for government subsidized foods.

At the West Valley Food Pantry in Woodland Hills, where nearly 250 food boxes are distributed the first Wednesday of each month to seniors, no new clients are being accepted.

"We'll continue feeding those that have already signed up, but we can't sign up any new seniors," said Jeanne Bain, co-director of the pantry.

It's gotten to the point that spaces become available only after clients die, she said.

"We can almost tell what's happening with the economy with what's happening here," she said of the new faces coming to the pantry at Prince of Peace Episcopal Church.

Rising food costs, a shortage of USDA commodities donated to food banks and a shortfall in federal funds all have contributed to shortages throughout Los Angeles County, said Los Angeles Regional Food Bank spokesman Darren Hoffman.

Seniors receive two boxes of cereal; cans of juice, soups and vegetables; peanut butter; a two-pound block of cheese; and evaporated milk.

The Los Angeles Food Bank is budgeted to help 7,200 seniors, but tries to stretch out the funds to help 8,000, "and that's the reason why we can't get new seniors now," Hoffman said.

Food donations to the food bank have fallen in the past two years, from 12million pounds in 2006 to 9million last year. By comparison, the food bank received 25million pounds of food in 2002.

Food bank operators are waiting for Congress to pass a Farm Bill by March 15, which will help determine how much USDA commodities will be available.

Because the cost of food has risen, however, some agencies that donate items are turning to selling their products to secondhand retail markets, which offer bulk items at a reduced rate.

"It's a Catch-22," Hoffman said. "Those stores do help a lot of low-income people. Right now, a lot of the donors we have are making a conscious decision to give to the food bank as opposed to selling to the secondhand retail stores. But a lot of these people are facing competition, too."

Seniors who qualify for the government-subsidized food earn a maximum annual income of $10,400 for an individual, or $14,000 per couple.

"There's so many seniors in need," he said. "This food really makes a difference to them."

Source: Daily News; Los Angeles, Calif.

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