Recognizing Food Bank Workers
A big “Thank You” is going out to all the people who work and volunteer at local food banks.
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack’s holiday message to food banks is one of “deep gratitude” for the important work they do every day but especially in the past year and a half during the pandemic. Vilsack says the USDA is stepping up with new assistance.
Vilsack: “Just recently we established a local food purchase assistance cooperative agreement program that will award up to $400 million for emergency food purchases of healthy, nutritious foods unique to the local geographic area. We’re also awarding up to $100 million in grants to expand the reach of TFAP in underserved and rural, remote, tribal, and low-income areas.”
The Secretary added that his agency is working in tandem with essential food bank partners around the nation to help keep communities fed healthy and strong.
Vilsack: “There’s no doubt that our foodbank heroes make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans. And during this holiday season and throughout every day of the year, I want to thank you for your incredible work.”
Feeding America, a national network of food banks says that in Alabama, more than 788,000 people are facing hunger - and of them 226,310 are children.
In Georgia, 1,279,310 people are facing hunger - and of them 377,400 are children.
In Florida, 2,567,300 people are facing hunger - and of them 723,540 are children.
US food banks distributed roughly 50 percent more food in 2020 compared with 2019 according to the New York Times. Many of the served were first-time visitors. Workers and volunteers served millions of people even as they dealt with supply-chain interruptions and health risks.
