Statement attributed to Amy Pezzani, CEO, Food Bank for Larimer County
At a time when food insecurity is rising nationwide, the recent passage of the federal budget bill is cause for deep concern. The bill imposes the deepest cuts to SNAP and Medicaid in a generation, slashing nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and $200 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — the equivalent of 6 billion meals.
These concerns are shared by our partners at Feeding America, which called the bill “a significant setback for people and communities facing barriers to accessing food and resources,” according to a July 1 statement, which reiterated the loss of the equivalent of 6 billion meals from SNAP cuts.
For context, the entire Feeding America network, which includes more than 200 food banks and 60,000 faith-based and charitable partners, distributed 6 billion meals last year. The Food Bank for Larimer County alone distributed enough food for 10.5 million meals last year.
This is dreadful news, when considering that 11% of the population of Larimer County is food insecure.
When SNAP benefits waver, food banks see spikes in need and numbers. Most recently, when SNAP emergency allocations were eliminated in February of 2023, the Food Bank immediately experienced a 30% increase in demand the following month.
In Larimer County, food insecurity carries real consequences. We see the distress every day—parents choosing between groceries and utilities, seniors skipping meals to afford medications, and children going to school on empty stomachs. We know that this newest legislation will substantially increase hunger in our state at a time our network is already strained to meet the need.
We will assist our neighbors however we can, and we will need everyone’s help to do it.
“We are used to uncertainty and use our ability to be nimble to plan strategically when crises like these happen,” said CEO Amy Pezzani. “We will continue to adapt to changes by increasing food purchases, securing emergency funding, coordinating with local groups, and rallying our community to work alongside us to fight hunger.”
Help us prepare for this change by volunteering, donating food, or donating funds. Click here to learn how you can be an advocate for food security all year long.
