Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Food Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee hears broad support for $6 million appropriation to expand Marion Polk Food Share
Summary
Lawmakers and community members urged the Senate Committee on Human Services to back Senate Bill 452, a $6 million General Fund appropriation to help Marion Polk Food Share buy and remodel a larger facility to expand cold storage, consolidate Meals on Wheels operations and increase distribution capacity across Marion and Polk counties.
Senate Bill 452 would appropriate $6,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Administrative Services for distribution to Marion Polk Food Share to purchase and remodel a facility for expanded food distribution; the measure declares an emergency and would be effective July 1, 2025.
Supporters told the Senate Committee on Human Services on Jan. 21 that the funding would address sharply increased demand for food assistance since the pandemic and allow the regional food bank to add cold storage, centralize its Meals on Wheels kitchen and better support local pantries. "Nothing good happens when you're hungry," Rick Gapo, CEO of Marion Polk Food Share, told the committee, urging backing for the capital project.
The bill's sponsors and testimony emphasized the network role the food bank plays: Marion Polk Food Share distributes to more than 100 local pantries and meal sites, coordinates Meals on Wheels for homebound seniors and works with thousands of volunteers. Sen. Deb Patterson said the food bank serves more than 58,000 people each month and that demand for pantry visits rose by about 60% since the pandemic. Board treasurer and facility chair Desiree Jackson said the Food Share currently serves 20,000 children per month and that 55% of its distributions are now fresh or frozen items that require cold storage.
Volunteers and Meals on Wheels drivers described the programs' personal impact. Kathy Johnson, a Meals on Wheels recipient, said deliveries provide essential nutrition and social contact; Dr. Debbie Seiler, a primary care physician and board member who volunteers as a driver, described clinical consequences of poor nutrition and urged support for the facility expansion. Multiple board members and local officials said the requested $6 million is one piece of a larger capital package that includes private-sector contributions and a discounted property sale to the Food Share.
Committee members noted this hearing is part of the policy process; appropriation bills still must be handled through the budget committees. Chair Gelser Bluein asked proponents to continue outreach to lawmakers as the bill proceeds through the budget process and reminded witnesses the next step will include budget committee review later in the session.
Proponents asked the committee to keep the public record open through the committee's next meeting so additional written testimony can be filed. There was no formal vote on the bill in this hearing.
