The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced cuts to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which provides monthly food allocations to food pantries nationwide, including the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry.
JFS was recently notified that our USDA food delivery for this month will be reduced by one-third. This means a loss of 20,000 pounds of food in April alone – an amount that would cost nearly $35,000 to replace. This will directly impact our ability to meet the steadily high demand and provide sufficient food to those who depend on us.
JFS is taking proactive steps to minimize these impacts on those we serve. Our leadership team is working tirelessly to secure alternative sources of food and support to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry. While the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry continues to receive generous donations from individuals, food drives, and grocery store partnerships, the USDA remains our largest source of food, making this reduction in our food supply especially difficult to overcome.
“Food insecurity can have lifelong developmental consequences, leading to social issues, frequent illness, decreased cognitive function, and more,” said JFS CEO Miriam Seidenfeld. “Thousands of our neighbors right here in St. Louis are at risk of going hungry due to these cuts. People have seen the news coverage and are reaching out to ask how they can help. That speaks to the connection our community feels to the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry and the essential role it plays in addressing food insecurity in our region.”
As always, you can support the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry by donating food or hosting a food drive, making a financial contribution, or volunteering your time. You can learn more at jfsstl.org/support/in-kind-donations/.