Federal cuts threaten food security in Bucks County

Bucks County officials are concerned about federal cuts to programs aimed at fighting food insecurity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced cuts to two key programs that provided $1 billion in funding across the country. These cuts involve the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement and the Local Food for Schools programs. Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie noted that this means a loss of $800,000 for local nonprofits that help families in need. He emphasized that this funding has been essential in the fight against hunger in the area. Mike Cerino, Executive Director of the Warminster Food Bank, explained that while they have not yet felt the immediate effects, they expect to see problems soon. Some food items, such as eggs and butter, have already begun disappearing from their supply chain. Cerino warned that this could lead to a 10 to 15% reduction in the monthly food baskets provided to clients. Bucks County faces a food insecurity rate of nearly 9%, impacting over 56,600 residents. Cerino mentioned that their food bank has seen a sharp increase in demand, distributing far more food than they did just a few years ago. These cuts will not only hurt those experiencing food insecurity but also local farmers, who benefit from the connections built through these programs. Harvie pledged to work with elected officials to maintain access to food resources for residents. He urged the community to recognize the seriousness of these issues and support local efforts to combat food insecurity.