Oregon Food Bank and other nutrition services left in limbo after federal cuts

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Food Bank has been left in limbo after a major source of federal funding has been put on the chopping block.

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled $500 million in food deliveries across the country, according to The Washington Post.

This comes after an announcement earlier this month that the USDA would be cutting more than $1 billion in funding for local food banks and schools by eliminating two programs: one that pays for schools and food banks to be able to buy from local farmers and another centered on deliveries of food.

For places like the Oregon Food Bank, dozens of truckloads of food set for delivery have now been canceled. Those who work in the local Oregon community said this will have a damaging effect on families in need, especially children.

“Is saving money on meals for children the right place to be cutting at this moment? We could be providing ultra-processed food in school meals, or we could be re-investing that money in our local economies and our local producers here in Oregon” said David Wieland, policy advocate with Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon.

The Oregon Food Bank said there was a 31% increase in visits last year compared to the year before. Advocates are now asking Oregon lawmakers to make up some of these cuts with state money via SB 611.