A strong Farm Bill will help community members experiencing food insecurity

The first Thanksgiving was held in 1621 to celebrate the abundant autumnal harvest. Today, while Thanksgiving is celebrated much later than the typical fall harvest season, many Americans still use the day to share a meal with family and reflect on the past year. But what about our neighbors struggling to put food on the table? What does Thanksgiving look like for them?

I am Mel Curtis, the anti-hunger programs director at the YMCA of Centre County. This month, we’ll distribute 335 Thanksgiving meals to neighbors in our community struggling to make ends meet. We see seniors, working parents, and children walk through our doors daily. For these neighbors, the holiday season of celebration and gratitude is often overshadowed by the stress of whether there will be enough money to share a meal with family and friends.

Consider a neighbor we serve, a disabled man who has no family left in the area to assist him. He lives in a rural area with no public transportation, which makes it harder to get to the grocery store. Plus, the cost of groceries continues to increase while his income remains the same. We currently deliver food to him, and he is a recipient of our Thanksgiving Blessings in a Box program. Individuals and families like this are why I come to work every day, knowing that if we make a difference in one person’s life, we succeed.

Food insecurity is rising in our communities, across Pennsylvania, and the nation. In Pennsylvania, 1 in 8 adults and 1 in 6 children are food insecure. The high cost of food and other necessities forces many families to scale down their Thanksgiving meal or skip it altogether. No one should go hungry, especially on Thanksgiving. That’s why the Centre County YMCA stands ready to serve any neighbors needing a helping hand.

But we can’t keep our shelves stocked alone. We partner with local agricultural producers to obtain large donations and wholesale purchases of wholesome, local food products. We also work with food retailers to divert food products from landfills to our shelves and reduce food waste. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, food banks and the charitable food network depend on strong federal nutrition programs in the Farm Bill, like The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), to help feed families.

TEFAP further facilitates relationships between agriculture and the charitable food network by acquiring surplus, 100% American-grown proteins, produce, and dairy for distribution through food banks across the country. It is a critical source of nutritious food products. Items I’ve had on my shelves courtesy of TEFAP include staples like chicken, eggs, milk and oranges. Last year, Pennsylvania’s charitable food network distributed over 62 million pounds of food acquired through the TEFAP program. Together, by leveraging private and public dollars, Pennsylvania’s food banks and charitable food system will serve the more than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians experiencing food insecurity this holiday season and beyond.

And not only does TEFAP provide healthy foods to our neighbors, but it also supports Pennsylvania agriculture. According to USDA’s most recent State of Origin Report, $99.3 million was spent in Pennsylvania purchasing products for distribution through USDA programs like TEFAP. TEFAP is a win-win for both producers and consumers.

That’s why reauthorizing the Farm Bill with strong investments in TEFAP is more critical than ever. Programs like TEFAP fuel American agriculture and feed our families. I urge Congress to pass a Farm Bill that supports families, farmers, and food banks, so that we all have a chance to enjoy our nation’s abundant harvest this holiday season.

Mel Curtis is the anti-hunger programs director at YMCA of Centre County.