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Lake County social services director says USDA cuts to emergency food shipments will deepen local hunger
Summary
Lake County Social Services Director Rachel Dillman Parsons told the Board of Supervisors that recent USDA cancellations of TEFAP shipments removed truckloads of groceries used by local food banks, and urged residents to contact federal lawmakers while distributions continue.
Lake County Social Services Director Rachel Dillman Parsons told the Board of Supervisors during public input that recent U.S. Department of Agriculture cuts to federal emergency food shipments have removed truckloads of groceries relied on by local food banks and will increase food insecurity in the county.
Parsons said the USDA announced about $500 million in TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) food had been permanently canceled and that Redwood Empire Food Bank reported missing seven USDA truckloads with an estimated value between $670,000 and $750,000. "This cut is particularly troubling given skyrocketing cost of groceries," Parsons said.
Why it matters: Parsons said more than 16,000 Lake County residents — roughly 25% of the county — receive CalFresh benefits, and many households that use CalFresh also rely on food-bank groceries to make ends meet. She told the board that TEFAP accounted for about 20% of Redwood Empire Food Bank's groceries, and that a reduction in TEFAP shipments will have a meaningful effect on available food for low-income and elderly residents.
Parsons clarified that Lake County Social Services does not manage the local food banks but works in cooperation with both the Gleaners and Redwood Empire Food Bank. She said the Gleaners reported no disruption as of March 21, while Redwood Empire Food Bank reported the missing truckloads. Parsons also said the USDA truckloads included items such as milk, frozen and canned protein, eggs and dried fruit that are commonly requested by food-bank clients.
Parsons said food distributions will continue and that Social Services' role is largely advocacy. "I have no ability to resolve this issue beyond advocacy," she said, and she encouraged residents to contact their federal legislators to request restoration of USDA food-bank funding. Parsons said she has provided printed CalFresh outreach materials and local food-resource lists for the public and had reached out to both food banks to invite additional comment if they were present.
Tammy Alexay, representing the American Red Cross, spoke during public input to express organizational support for the Redwood Empire Food Bank and the Gleaners, calling them partners of the Red Cross in local relief work.
A board member asked Parsons to schedule a deeper presentation on the topic so supervisors could discuss the situation and related needs in more detail.
No formal action or vote was taken during the public-input segment on this matter; Parsons and partners said they would continue to monitor the situation and provide resources to residents.
