14 NOVEMBER 26, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Meng calls for more funding for food relief program
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) has secured funding
for another round of food
relief that will benefi t many families
in Queens and other parts of New York
who are facing food insecurity amid
the COVID-19 pandemic, according to
Congresswoman Grace Meng.
Meng led members of New York’s
Congressional Delegation in a bicameral
letter urging Agriculture
Secretary Sonny Perdue to confirm
the fourth round of funding for the
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program’s
Farmers to Families Food Box
initiative.
“The evidence is clear on why this
program is so critical and necessary.
New York City’s food pantries have
reported a massive spike in demand
compared to months before the pandemic,”
Meng said.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security (CARES) Act created
CFAP, a $19 billion program to
help agricultural producers — who
have faced a 5 percent or greater decline
in commodity prices — access
financial relief during COVID-19.
Under the initiative, the USDA
purchases fresh produce, dairy
and meat products from American
producers to package into boxes that
are distributed by nonprofits, and
faith-based and community organizations
to Americans facing food
insecurity.
Meng’s letter is urging the USDA
to ensure that vendors can provide
combination boxes and meat/dairy/
produce-only boxes for pantries and
food assistance groups that service
those who observe kosher and halal
diets.
“For such a diverse city, it is important
that we provide not only
adequate food, but boxes that kosher
and halal communities can access. I
look forward to the Secretary’s response,”
Meng said.
The correspondence highlighted
the chaos from the round three
funding that resulted in restrictions
for food vendors to service specific
boroughs and counties which left
food pantries scrambling to find new
partnerships with zero guidance
from the USDA, no overlap in service
provisions, and nowhere to turn to
help, according to Meng.
“I hope the agency has learned
from its previous missteps in roundthree
funding, and will ensure the
fourth round proceeds smoothly so
that families who need this critical
food assistance are not harmed,”
Meng said.
Senator Charles Schumer said the
limitations in the Farmers to Families
Food Box Program made matters
worse, preventing food banks from
serving communities that rely on
them.
“I, along with Congresswoman
Meng, will hold the Secretary accountable
for resolving these issues
and fulfilling the requests for food
boxes that meet the dietary needs of
our communities,” Schumer said.
Meanwhile, Senator Kirsten
Gillibrand, a member of the Senate
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry, said the USDA
must do right by New Yorkers this
time around.
“The USDA must confirm that
vendors will be able to supply our
local food pantries adequately, and
that New Yorkers who keep kosher
and halal won’t be excluded from
having their nutritional needs met,”
Gillibrand said.
Courtesy Meng’s offi ce
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