Sun-Gazette Archives In this file photo, volunteers from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and American Rescue Workers load up passing cars with boxes of food during the annual Food Distribution of 2022. The ARW and the Food Bank work together to provide over 600 families in need support in the form of canned goods, dry goods, fresh vegetables and more for the Christmas Holiday.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank has paused its farm acquisition program, for fear that they may not be reimbursed for “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in federal funding, according to Joe Arthur, executive director.

Arthur said, in an article by Ivey DeJesus at PennLive.com, that he is concerned that “disruption to the federal Local Food Purchasing program will threaten their efforts to help feed needy families across the state.

The program allows the food bank to help people by purchasing milk, eggs and meat directly from farmers at reduced prices.

“We’re allowed to use that funding to not have to pay retail prices to farmers, but to compensate them for packaging and pick-and-pack-out of their product to get us the donation. It’s really important funding that’s all for food,” he said.

He stressed that “losing the purchasing program would be particularly painful given the high quality of the food in question and that the uncertainty is already affecting operations,” PennLive’s account said.

The program is in jeopardy due to the funding cuts and elimination of programs being instituted by President Donald Trump. The administration has rescinded many of the cuts and stoppages, but the future of the programs and immediate funding remain unknown, PennLive reported.

“Until we have assurance that we would get reimbursed, we simply can’t rely on that funding until it starts to flow again,” Arthur said.

There is also a concern that the next agriculture funding in the upcoming federal budget might contain cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which could impact the food bank and the families that benefit from the assistance, PennLive reported.

“If their SNAP benefits are reduced, then they’re going to need to rely even more on the charitable food network,” Arthur said. “So we’re watching that very closely, how that plays out in the coming weeks.”

The food bank is also keeping tabs on other programs that receive federal funding, which Arthur said “are not enormous amounts but certainly they are important when you are in a hunger crisis.”

The food bank is coming off a string of years, dating back to the pandemic in 2020, where it has seen record-demand for food assistance from families. The number continues to grow as rising food prices coupled with an increase in household expenses and stagnant wages put many families at risk for food insecurity.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank serves 27 counties and works with 200 community agencies that provide food assistance at the local level.