IN ADVANCE OF THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, BROWN WILL VISIT TOLEDO FOOD PANTRY TO URGE USDA TO RESTORE CRITICAL FUNDING FOR FOOD BANKS
TOLEDO, OH – In advance of Thanksgiving holiday, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will visit the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank on Friday to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase its contributions to ensure food pantries can continue to serve their communities. With nearly one-in-seven Ohio families lacking reliable access to food, Brown will join Jim Caldwell, president and CEO of the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank, and community volunteers to call for increased federal funding and urge northwest Ohioans to donate to local foodbanks this holiday season.
Because of increased demand, many Ohio food banks rely on the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to supply low-income senior citizens and families with nutritious commodity foods, including canned fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, beans, pasta, peanut butter, rice, and soups. But unless the USDA increases funding, the program will see a reduction in funding, leaving many food pantries in Ohio and across the country with the prospect of seriously depleted food stock.
