Carol Stewart shops for food Dec. 11 at the East Texas Food Bank’s Longview Resource Center. (Les Hassell/Longview News-Journal Photo)

As the Trump administration attempts to ferret out “fraud, waste and abuse” in the federal government, two U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that help feed needy East Texans saw their funding frozen in one case and terminated in the other.

The nonprofit East Texas Food Bank, a regional network of food banks that serves Smith and 25 other counties across the region, says the effects of those cuts already are being felt by the organization, which served 31 million meals to families and children this past year.

“The East Texas Food Bank has been notified that several truckloads of previously expected food from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will not be delivered. This food equates to 360,000 pounds valued at $750,000,” food bank CEO David Emerson said in a statement.

In mid-March, the USDA cut and froze a combined $1 billion from two programs that aid food banks across the country in gathering and purchasing food from farms and other suppliers.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP, saw a $500 million pause in March. TEFAP purchases domestically grown food and distributes it to state agencies, which then send those supplies to food banks and organizations serving areas facing high poverty and unemployment rates.

Meanwhile, funding was terminated for the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). The $500 million initiative supported food banks in purchasing produce, meat and other food items from local and regional farms.

“The East Texas Food Bank will incur a loss of 756,000 pounds of produce valued at $121,000,” because of the LFPA program cuts, Emerson said. “If funding continues to be cut, this could severely restrict our ability to meet current demand. This year we are on track to serve over 33 million meals …”

The programs were described as “nonessential” by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

To date, Texas has received more than $72 million in LFPA awards, the second most awarded to a state and only topped by the $88 million distributed to California, according to USDA data.

Program funding in Texas paid for bread, produce, meat and poultry provided by 200 producers across the state.

The cuts are coming at a difficult time for food banks as demand for their services continues to climb across the country, according to Reuters.

Food bank seeks support

“Currently, one in six East Texas adults including 1 in 4 children are hungry,” Emerson said. “Please advocate for ETFB by calling your local congressional leaders, signing up for a volunteer shift or consider a donation to fund our operations.”

Local congressional leaders include U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who can be reached by phone at 202-224-2934 or 903-593-0902; U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who can be reached at 202-224-5922; and U.S. House Rep. Nathaniel Moran, who can be reached at 202-225-3035 or 903-561-6349.

As for monetary donations to the food bank, those who wish to donate by mail can send donations to:

East Texas Food Bank

ATTN: Development Department

3201 Robertson Road

Tyler, TX 75701

Donations by phone are welcome by calling 903-597-3663; just ask for the development department.

Volunteers are invited to get involved, as the food bank relies on those to help fulfill its mission. All volunteers over the age of 8 are welcome, although minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Register to volunteer at easttexasfoodbank.org/join-the-fight/donate-time. Questions about volunteering can be directed to ETFB Volunteer & Guest Services Coordinator Tyquan Reaves by calling at 903-617-2016.

The food bank, serving 26 counties in the region, also operates several resource centers, including one in Tyler which opened in December 2023. The center, which provides a one-stop shop of wraparound services with a food pantry, benefits assistance and other services, is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 4 to 6:30 p.m. On Saturdays, the center is open 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

For more information including a full list of food pantries in the region, visit easttexasfoodbank.org .