Here’s What Federal Food Aid Cuts Mean During Climate Change | Eater

"A major regional food bank that relied on TEFAP "bonus commodities" shipments and anticipated Local Food Purchase Assistance funding to supply meat, eggs, and vegetables to clients; without those shipments "the quantity and quality of food they will be able to serve will be greatly reduced," said senior manager of public policy and benefits Robert Desio. About 570,000 residents depend on the organization; since October the food bank has distributed roughly 3.1 million meals made up of bonus commodities. The loss of future Local Food Purchase Assistance funding represented "a significant chunk of money" — an estimated $1.5 million for Northern Illinois — and the organization is also waiting on $165,000 in reimbursements they already spent against the grant this year. Desio warned of both rising demand and administrative confusion: “We are already serving more neighbors than ever,” said Desio, and "An even bigger issue, he said, is that nobody — from the state to the USDA — seems to know exactly what’s going on." - Ayurella Horn-Muller