Further food assistance has been announced by the US Department of Agriculture with more support going to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and the States and Tribal nations.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the hunger crisis in America, but help is on the way,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
“By expanding the reach of CSFP and providing additional support to the states and tribes that administer the programme, the Department of Agriculture is helping ensure that no senior has to worry where their next meal will come from.”
The programme distributes food and administrative funds to participating states and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs). The food packages are not a complete diet, but supplemental sources of the nutrients.
The American Rescue Plan funding allows the Food and Nutrition Service to fulfil 2021 requests from states to serve more seniors, and adds the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes to the program.
It was also announced that those relying on the support wouldn’t unintentionally lose access to their benefits due to financial relief.
Food support announcements have included
- Providing over $1.1 billion or 15 per cent more per month in benefits for about 41 million participants — to September 2021
- Adding $1.1 billion in new funding for territories that operate nutrition assistance block grants — home to nearly three million Americans
- Extending and expanding P-EBT — a program that served over 8.4 million families with children at its peak last year
- Funding meals for young adults experiencing homelessness through Child and Adult Care Food Program emergency shelters
- Providing nearly $900 million for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, including a temporary increase in fruit and vegetable vouchers to $35 per month.
