This past week, Foodlink has contacted the six representatives (2 Senators and 4 House Members) in its 10-county service area to convey our concern that food purchases made through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) are currently below adequate levels. 

TEFAP foods provided by the USDA are an important part of the food our network relies on to help feed hungry Americans. Foodlink sent letters and made calls to the offices of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sen. Charles Schumer, Rep. Louise Slaughter, Rep. John Katko, Rep. Chris Collins and Rep. Tom Reed to urge them to make sure the USDA make additional purchases before the Sept. 30 deadline. Without additional purchases, there will be a 43% drop in purchases for FY 2017, which would greatly impact the Feeding America network of 200 food banks. 

We hope they get our message! We must raise our voices in support of TEFAP. About 20% of the food we distribute to hundreds of emergency food providers comes from this important program.