Government Spending on Food

Obama’s administration released last month that just over $107 billion will be allotted towards the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. It’s interesting to see which programs received funding and how much they received. It breaks down like this.

SNAP (food stamps) received the largest chunk of the pie with $68 billion.

Child Nutrition received $19.4 billion to help expand programs like school lunches and breakfasts, summer food service, adult and child care, and other nutrition programs for children. Obama’s administration has really made this a priority.

WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) received $7.6 billion. This program is similar to food stamps except it’s only for low-income women, infants, & children up to the age of 5.

CFSP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program) received $176.8 million. This program is just like the WIC except it also includes seniors and actual food is given instead of vouchers.

TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) received $50 million. This program is probably what is buying most of the food that we distribute through our pantry. It buys food and gives it to state governments who then give it to their regional food banks who finally give it to places like our food pantry in St Bernard Parish.

Hunger Fellows, a new program that trains emerging leaders in the fight against hunger, received $3 million.

According to Feeding America, the umbrella organization for our regional food bank, the most underfunded program is TEFAP. This is discouraging because that is the program that’s ultimately giving us the bulk of our food. Feeding America says that program needs an additional $100 million for administrative funding. Another big fear is that Obama’s proposed freeze on all non-defense domestic discretionary spending could keep TEFAP at this highly underfunded level for years.

Want to help? Visit Feeding America’s Action Center for ideas and resources.