Food banks bracing for increase in need due to sweeping federal cuts

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Cuts to nutrient assistance programs made successful President Trump's "big, beauteous bill" volition summation nutrient insecurity close present successful Central California.

The Central California Food Bank is sounding the alarm astir the ramifications of the bill, which volition slash much than $1 trillion from SNAP (food stamps) and Medicaid and make enactment requirements for assistance starting aft the 2026 mid-term election.

More than 300,000 radical successful Central California beryllium connected SNAP benefits.

"Those are low-income, moving Americans that request enactment to supply steadfast and nutritious nutrient for their families," said Natalie Caples, co-CEO of the Central California Food Bank.

Feeding America, the nationwide programme the Central California Food Bank is affiliated with, says the cuts could effect successful six to 9 cardinal much meals needed per twelvemonth nationwide.

"That's what we distributed past year. Collectively, we distributed 6 cardinal meals," said Caples.

Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig, who supports the "big beauteous bill," volition beryllium contiguous astatine a ample nutrient organisation lawsuit enactment connected by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints connected Thursday.

Nearly 30,000 pounds of adust goods person been brought from Utah to enactment nutrient insecurity successful Central California.

"I deliberation what we're going to beryllium seeing successful the aboriginal arsenic the national authorities continues to marque cuts and trim the national shortage we're going to request to spot nonprofits, churches to measurement up to assistance those successful request successful our community," said Magsig.

But Caples says that is not going to beryllium enough.

"There is nary level of philanthropic concern that is going to wholly destruct the spread that the cuts to the S.N.A.P. programme volition have," she said.

Congressman David Valadao, who was a captious ballot for the bill, sent Action News the pursuing statement:

"H.R. 1 makes tenable but important reforms to SNAP by clarifying enactment requirements and holding states accountable for moving the programme responsibly -- without making important cuts to services. SNAP is presently 1 of the lone information nett programs without a cost-sharing requirement, and this measure builds connected bipartisan Farm Bill policies by giving states the enactment to debar those costs if they support their mistake rates low."

Action News requested an interrogation with Valadao to inquire circumstantial questions aft speaking with the nutrient slope but were told helium was unavailable.

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