1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

The USDA's decision to cancel $11 million in funding for North Carolina food banks will have devastating impacts on access to fresh and nutritious food for vulnerable communities across the state. This funding was a vital lifeline, enabling food banks like the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to purchase produce directly from local farmers and distribute it to those facing food insecurity. The loss of $2 million for this organization alone translates into fewer fruits and vegetables reaching the plates of struggling families in 34 counties. We cannot allow this essential program supporting both food access and local agriculture to be dismantled. The hardworking farmers who have partnered with food banks now face economic hardship, compounding the immense strain on our emergency food system brought on by rising hunger rates. Access to healthy food is a basic human right that must be prioritized, not an expendable line item in the federal budget. I urge you to take immediate action to reinstate the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program funding for North Carolina and states across the nation. This program represents a critical investment in the wellbeing of our most vulnerable citizens and the sustainability of local food systems. Its loss will only deepen the crises of hunger, poverty and economic instability gripping our communities. We cannot allow struggling families and farmers to bear the brunt of these shortsighted cuts. Act now to protect food security for all.