Memorandum
Date: April 08, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Rachael Dillman Parsons, Social Services Director
Subject: Federal Update - Food Bank Funding for Discussion
Executive Summary:
On March 28, 2025, the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $500 million cut in the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).
Clear Lake Gleaners, Inc. is the local food bank that receives and distributes TEFAP groceries for Lake County. The cancelled USDA TEFAP truckloads included a variety of milk, frozen protein, canned protein, eggs and dried fruit, all desirable and preferred by people who come to our food banks for groceries.
This cut is particularly troubling given the skyrocketing cost of groceries. Over 16,000 people, 25% of Lake County's residents, receive CalFresh. Many families who visit food banks for groceries make too much money to get CalFresh, but not enough to put food on the table. These cuts will increase food insecurity nationwide.
TEFAP also supported U.S. farmers by purchasing commodities for food bank distribution.
All 43 CA Democrats and the two Senators sent a letter to USDA Secretary Rollins on March 31, 2025. It urges the restoration of funding for the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreements, the Local Food for Schools (LFS) Cooperative Agreement Program, and Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) funds.
Social Services respectfully brings this update to your board for discussion.
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