32 truckloads of food for Feeding America West Michigan: canceled.
“The 32 truckloads equate to around 600,000 pounds of food.”
President and CEO Ken Estelle says that’s a full weeks’ worth of food the Kentwood-based company distributes to 800 partners in 40 counties across West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
“Ground beef, pork, chicken, turkey, eggs, cheese, milk, and so those were what the truckloads consisted of. It was really good food that we were planning on.”
The cancellation impacts deliveries April through July in the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program.
The Trump administration has vowed to lower inflation by cutting back on government spending, including two USDA programs supporting schools and food banks that buy food from local farms.
Estelle says he’s working with other partners to purchase or replace the losses but notes local partnering farmers are also affected by federal cuts.
“The food that the USDA ultimately processes and provides to us comes from farms. Michigan is the second largest provider to the USDA of commodities behind California so anytime the USDA cancels orders or trucks, ultimately somewhere a farm is being impacted.”
Feeding American West Michigan distributes more than 23 million meals worth of food annually
“We will absolutely have food available to every one of our distributions and food pantries. It may not be the same food we are anticipating, but we will definitely be able to have food for folks that need help.”
