Feeding Westchester says shipments with a million pounds of food canceled due to federal cuts
Workers at Feeding Westchester said they've been forced to rely more on donations from the community.
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A food bank in Elmsford said they "have less food to give" now that they're starting to feel the impact of federal cuts, tariffs, and supply chain delays.
Workers at Feeding Westchester said they've been forced to rely more on donations from the community following a major inventory announcement from their Chief Operating Officer, Tami Wilson.
"We had about a million pounds worth of food that was supposed to be shipped and distributed through April, May, and June. Unfortunately, due to federal cuts, they were unable to get that food," Wilson said.
Wilson said that amount of food could fill about 25 trailer trucks, which equals about 800,000 missing meals for families in need.
"We were already struggling. This million is even making it even harder for us," Wilson said.
Now that they have less goods to give, Wilson said the smaller food banks that they serve are also starting to struggle.
The circumstance is one of the reasons why Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry's executive director, Trina Fontaine, said it's better for donors to give money instead of physical food.
"If a donor is spending $10 in a grocery store, at retail prices, if they give us the $10, we might be able to get $35 or $40 worth of food if we're doing it from a Feeding Westchester," Fontaine said.
Despite the challenge, workers at Feeding Westchester said they are committed to helping families around the Hudson Valley stay fed.
"People in need- need the same thing everyone else needs," Wilson said.
