ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orange County food pantry that partners with Second Harvest says it’s facing a significant challenge due to a freeze on federal funding.
We told you late last month about how the Trump administration’s freeze on the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) halted all CCC-funded orders for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), resulting in the suspension of 28 tractor-trailer loads of food meant for Second Harvest.
Now, we’re hearing from Phillip Flynn, president of Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando (JFS Orlando). The nonprofit partners with Second Harvest and runs a food pantry that Flynn says services around nine clients every 15 minutes.
“Food insecurity in Central Florida is obscene. It is a huge problem that everybody talks about. We’re just not getting the support to address it,” Flynn said.
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“Just this past week and a half ago, we got a notice saying that the program had been put on hold,” Flynn continued. “We were in operation getting that food out the door when suddenly it just stopped. (...) I’m missing eggs, I’m missing dairy, I’m missing milk — obviously dairy. I’m missing fresh vegetables, I’m missing fruit. The list just goes on and on. It’s the high proteins, the turkeys, the meats that you and I need to have a healthy day.”
Greg Higgerson, chief development officer with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, says it will cost them $1.6 million in the short term to provide their partner pantries with the food they need.
“This is going to affect people across the board. It’s important to realize that we’re not the only food bank affected by this. This is happening across the entire country,” Higgerson said, adding 200 food banks which are part of Feeding America are all feeling the impact.
“They’re all getting the notices that those loads are canceled,” Higgerson continued. “I imagine the farmers are going to be feeling it very soon. It’s a big issue.”
Though there’s uncertainty about when the funding will resume, Higgerson said he’s hopeful that it could come back next year.
“We know that it’s not going to continue this year,” he said.
Those interested in supporting JFS Orlando can donate by clicking here.
Access Second Harvest’s Food Locator by clicking here.
