National cuts may affect local food banks

FRESNO, Calif. – The Trump administration cut $1 billion from the U.S Department of Agriculture. Now local food banks are bracing for the impact.

According to Fox 26, 13 trucks destined for the Central California Food Bank were delayed because of the cuts. Those trucks were expected to feed people in the Central Valley through July.

The Amendola Family Student Cupboard at Fresno State is a free food pantry on campus available to current students. Once a day, students can get fresh produce and shelf-stable items like milk and meat for free.

Michael Ballin is the cupboard’s food security project manager. He said he’s not sure how the federal budget cuts will trickle down to the Amendola Family Student Cupboard.

The student food cupboard operates with a variety of funding mostly an endowment and donations, but is also buys food from local businesses.

“We pick up from Grocery Outlet, Winco, Smart and Final and then we get like oranges and lemons donated through Bee Sweet Citrus,” Ballin said. “So, [our food] really comes in from a lot of different places and we kind of just piece it together.”

The student cupboard is staffed with a mix of volunteers and paid student employees. Volunteers and employees are responsible for unpacking and stocking shelves.

Ruby Mora is a human nutrition major at Fresno State. She works as a student-employee at the Amendola Family Student Cupboard.

“Everytime I come in I just check in and just ask them what needs to be done, what can I do to help and they just kind of guide you,” Mora said. “They’re very helpful everybody is really nice. And you know kind of just get to socialize with other people and like just do as much as you can to kind of help out and stock everything; make sure there’s enough for when we open.”

According to Fox 26, the Central California Food Bank has 13 delayed trucks due to the cuts. Those were expected to feed people in the Central Valley through July.

“I guess we will have to wait and see how this affects the Student Cupboard. Luckily, we do pick up donations from various vendors and will continue to seek out other sources of food as well,” Ballin said.