AUSTIN (KXAN) — In early March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut half a billion in funding for food purchasing programs. As a result, the Central Texas Food Bank said it will lose $5.5 million in funding for the upcoming fiscal year.
The USDA cancelled 40 deliveries of food to their facility, which equals about 761,000 meals.
‘We’re the front line for our families. So if we don’t exist, our families don’t eat.”
Sari Vatske, Central Texas Food Bank President & CEO
Those deliveries included vegetables, protein items and dairy products. Central Texas Food Bank President and CEO Sari Vatske said this comes as more people need their help.
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The Central Texas Food Bank said if nothing replaces these costs, it will result in less food for families. (Photo: KXAN) -
The Central Texas Food Bank said if nothing replaces these costs, it will result in less food for families. (Photo: KXAN) -
The Central Texas Food Bank said if nothing replaces these costs, it will result in less food for families. (Photo: KXAN) -
The Central Texas Food Bank said if nothing replaces these costs, it will result in less food for families. (Photo: KXAN) -
The Central Texas Food Bank said if nothing replaces these costs, it will result in less food for families. (Photo: KXAN) -
The Central Texas Food Bank said if nothing replaces these costs, it will result in less food for families. (Photo: KXAN)
“We’ve seen the reliance on our services increase, reaching higher than pandemic levels of need,” Vatske said. “We were seeing about 60,000 people coming to us per week, and now we’re seeing over 90,000 people needing our services weekly.”
The funding cuts come as the Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency say they are slashing government spending.
Fundraising help
It’s why they’re relying more on fundraising efforts like the Austin Reggae Festival. The tradition returns to Auditorium Shores this weekend and will celebrate its 30th year.
Organizers said they expect about 20,000 attendees over the three-day event.
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Austin Reggae Festival organizers said the event started back in 1994. (Photo: KXAN) -
Austin Reggae Festival organizers said the event started back in 1994. (Photo: KXAN) -
Austin Reggae Festival organizers said the event started back in 1994. (Photo: KXAN) -
Austin Reggae Festival organizers said the event started back in 1994. (Photo: KXAN)
A portion of all the proceeds benefit the food bank. Festival organizers said the event raised over one million dollars for the Central Texas Food Bank in the last 10 years alone. Over the last five years, its raised money to help the charity provide more than 2.5 million meals.
