Maryland Food Bank "devastated" after elimination of $4.4M in food deliveries, federal funding
The Maryland Food Bank said it is projected to lose $4.425 million over the next year due to the elimination of the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and cuts to the Emergency Feeding Program by the federal government.
"At a time when need is at historic highs, we can't step backwards," said Maryland Food Bank Chief Operating Officer Meg Kimmel. "Our own research shows us 1 in 3 Marylanders may be facing food insecurity right now."
It's a devastating blow to the Maryland Food Bank as the U.S. Department of Agriculture is cutting the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA). It helps local groups and food banks, including the Maryland Food Bank, purchase food from local farms.
"The loss that we're seeing from LFPA is in the third phase of the program, which would kick off on December 1st," Kimmel said.
According to Kimmel, they will no longer have access to nearly $3 million in purchasing funds from the program.
She also added that the food bank will face another hit much sooner, and a recent pause on the USDA's Emergency Feeding program has canceled 13 deliveries, totaling 460,000 pounds, to the food bank between now and July.
"That's another half million pounds that we will not have access to," she said. "The financial impact of that is north of a million dollars."
The Maryland Food Bank receives about $14 million annually in federal funding, which supports about 20% of distribution in the current fiscal year. Kimmel said the Maryland Food Bank will look to other resources if the gap isn't filled.
Right now, she said they are focused on advocacy and are reaching out to elected officials to get these programs reinstated.
Online searches for food assistance rise
The LFPA funding, which will run out at the end of November, had provided 5.6 million meals (or 6.6 million pounds of food) to Baltimore City and 21 Maryland counties in 2023-24, according to the organization.
"This funding cut will reduce access to fresh produce, proteins, dairy, eggs, and seafood for families in need and impact local farmers and food producers who relied on the program," the Maryland Food Bank said.
The program had increased the food bank's distribution of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and seafood by 25% in one year as of October 2024, according to the organization.
The Maryland Food Bank continues to see online searches for food assistance rise, 3.6x higher in January 2025 than a year prior and up nearly 40% from December 2024.
Baltimore residents help feed its community
Meanwhile, Baltimore residents are banding together, highlighting community fridges across the city. Four women are gathering donated fridges to give to local organizations.
"I do think it's powerful that we as individuals can feel empowered to make a difference," said Elizabeth Miller, an organizer with the Bmore Community Fridge Network. "And I love food being accessible at all hours."
On Friday, the Bmore Community Fridge Network presented a donated fridge to Nikki Smith, the CEO of The Journey Mental Health and Wellness in the Upton neighborhood. Smith said this additional resource outside her office will expand the resources she already offers.
"For so long, Pennsylvania Ave has just been looked over," Smith said. "There are so many people here that just need some love."
Maryland impacted by federal funding cuts
The Maryland Food Bank is one of the multiple entities that have been impacted by recent cuts to federal funding by the Trump administration. In total, the USDA canceled $1 billion in funding designated to schools and food banks to buy food directly from local farms, ranchers, and producers.
$660 million of that funding was for the Local Food for Schools program, which is active in 40 states. $420 million of that funding belonged to Local Food Purchase Assistance programs.
Last week, Maryland education leaders said they were in shock after the federal government rescinded a reimbursement of $360 million that it had previously committed to give to state schools.
Johns Hopkins University said it has to "wind down critical work" both in Baltimore and internationally after the termination of more than $800 million in USAID funding.
As a result of these USAID cuts, the university said it is laying off more than 2,000 workers globally. JHU has been one of the top recipients of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for many years.
Maryland's economy is particularly vulnerable to these cuts as it received nearly $115 billion in federal contracts, grants, and assistance payments last year—more than $18,500 per resident, the Baltimore Banner reported. The state saw a 24% increase in federal funding over the past five years, making it especially susceptible to the current reductions.
