CBS 7 Midland/Odessa- Food Banks face possible crisis

CBS7 News
September 30, 2011

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that one in seven Americans live in poverty. Fourteen percent of our country depends on federal assistance through agencies such as the West Texas Food Bank. Now, those agencies are facing budget cut recommendations from a congressional super committee. The committee was created to present ways to eliminate $1.5 billion from the federal budget.

West Texas Food Bank officials say any cuts would be disastrous to the children, seniors and families they serve in the Permian Basin.

The food collected here at the West Texas Food Bank goes to 179 partner agencies which provided seven million meals to families last year.

Congressman Mike Conaway stated last week at Midland College, social programs such as the food bank, food stamps and WIC will be on the table for proposed cuts.

"Families are going to have to step up and communities are going to step up. Is it the federal government's role to provide nutrition to every single person in this country and the answer is no,” Conaway said. “What about people who don't have a support net who have no family...well, they're in that program they're getting nutrition such as SNAP, food stamps, and those kind of things. They're still going to be there. We're not going to eliminate that program, but we can't afford some of the increases we've had in the past."

The congressman points out that federal nutritional programs have seen budget increases in the last three years, but cuts are on the way.
"We hope congress will realize this, friends, families and churches are there trying to help now, and by adding their additional threats to them it will cause real problems in our communities and especially for those senior citizens,” Executive West Texas Food Bank, Augie Fernandez said.

"I don't want to see funding cut for programs where people really need it, the support. And, again, I'm not in favor of cutting any of that. I'd like to make sure we're spending the dollars wisely," Health professional, Connie Siffring said.

Congressman Conaway says bills are being considered to make sure those who receive federal assistance qualify. He says that would make them more effective.

"It just effects the waste and the fraud with respect to the providers. So, we're working on these programs to make sure all the money that was appropriated gets into the right spot. It's another issue that's out there as well," Conaway said.

The West Texas Food Bank's Executive Director points out that many of the families they serve are working people.

"We're taking care of working families who are making minimum wage who just can't make ends meet and I think our congress needs to take a better view of the consequences of their cuts," Fernandez said.

Fernandez told us that empty food trucks don't feed the people of West Texas. There are a lot of others who depend on the food bank for helping other such as senior citizens with Meals-on-Wheels, all of it fits together into one support group.

A lot of the food bank provisions go to seniors through programs which are also under the budget knife.

"I feel like it's going to increase the hunger in America. Those people will not have access to enough food. I was helping my mother with the Angel Food Program and I got a letter saying that this month, September, it will be discontinued," Evelyn Dickson said.

Food bank supplies also feed children, one of the more compelling messages from Fernandez.

"We don't want our kids going to school hungry and not being able to learn. We don't want our children going to school malnourished and not being able to enjoy what the other family’s children enjoy. So, it's important this is about today. It's about our future. This is about our children," Fernandez said.

Cuts to the food bank and other social programs will be considered and submitted to congress by the "super committee" on or before November 23rd.