Shutdown, government cuts pose challenges for Food Bank of the RGV

PHARR, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The government shutdown rolls on with no end in sight. The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley said while the shutdown has caused additional problems for them, the increase in Valley residents needing food assistance really started months ago.

Omar I. Rodriguez, Director of Grants and Government Relations at the food bank, said they started noticing the uptick in March. Rodriguez said it was a combination of factors, including the flooding in the area and cuts to federal food aid programs, and beyond.

“It feels different, as it used to be one aspect, just one thing that was causing problems as far as access to food," Rodriguez said, "It’s starting to be more compounded.”

Rodriguez added that the increase in the number of people the organization serves was still going up before the shutdown began.

“That was a major jump, from 88,000 on a weekly basis to 93,000 and we’re really concerned right now with the shutdown that the number may increase in the next few weeks.”

In March, the federal government cut nearly $500 million from the Emergency Food Assistance Program. The TEFAP bought food from farmers, sending it to food banks and other non-profits dealing with food insecurity.

“Some of that money was frozen for a while, and right now we’re still waiting to see if there’s any further federal guidance for that. But in that respect, it’s affecting other non-profits here in the Valley that relied on that money.”

As the shutdown continues, Rodriguez said other federal programs could also be in jeopardy. He said that if it lasts just another week, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will dry up without intervention from the federal government.

In his experience, he noted that the food bank tends to see more SNAP recipients near the end of the month, as their benefits are typically depleted.

“When a piece is taken out of that safety net, then it makes it weaker, and it makes us actually unable to get food to the tables of families across the Rio Grande Valley.”

According to Rodriguez, the Food Bank RGV is still able to reach its goal of providing food assistance to anyone who requests it.

"We want to make sure that anyone that comes through our doors leaves with food. And right now, we're looking at 100% on that."

Rodriguez encouraged anyone who wants to make monetary donations or volunteer their time at any one of their three distribution sites across the Valley.