Local food banks are struggling after a series of federal funding freezes impacted finances and cut the amount of food coming in for hungry community members.
For the Blaine Food Bank, problems began in December when the city of Blaine discontinued $50,000 in funding earmarked for fresh milk that it had started providing during the pandemic with Covid-19 funds.
In the four months since, nothing has gotten easier for the food bank, director Lisa Dobbin said.
Federal funding cuts by the Trump administration and an economic retraction resulting in less donations from grocery stores and other sources mean the food bank is having to get creative to make sure it doesn’t turn anyone away for lack of food.
“What has changed is two things, the amount of food coming in through federal agencies and partnerships, and the amount of food coming in through grocery store rescue programs,” Dobbin said.
The Local Food Purchase Assistance program was eliminated without any warning, removing $150,000 in funding to county food banks to purchase local produce. Roughly 15 percent of that produce had gone to Blaine.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program was cut by roughly 30 percent, equating to a roughly $600,000 cut county-wide, or $100,000 in food to Blaine, Dobbin said.
Those cuts resulted in the food bank monitoring its limits to ensure it never turns someone away, Dobbin said.
For example, the food bank used to give out full gallons of milk to each patron, but now has cut that down to half-gallon jugs.
Dobbin said much of the food coming into the food bank is from the grocery rescue program, where local grocery stores donate soon-to-be expired food that food banks can quickly distribute. The amount of food coming through that program has dwindled, as grocery stores have “tightened their belts,” Dobbin said.
Since federal funding cuts were announced in March, Dobbin said the food bank has seen a 30-40 percent reduction in dry goods, while the number of people in need only increases. The food bank currently serves between 2,800 and 3,000 households a month, with people coming from across north Whatcom County.
Dobbin said she expects next quarter to be even worse, as some federal funding was still trickling in at the beginning of the year. With no federal relief in sight, Dobbin said the food bank will need to get creative in order to find new avenues for donations and support from individuals.
“Donations are huge, obviously,” Dobbin said. “But the second thing is, organize a food drive in your neighborhood, at your place of business, at the gym, wherever. Sharing any of our social media is a big help. We’ve got over 60 volunteers and they work tirelessly for this food bank and for this community.”
Blaine Food Bank is also in need of truck drivers to help with its food rescue program, Dobbin said. Truck drivers are needed seven days a week, for about three hours a day, to drive to Bellingham-area grocery stores to rescue food.
To learn more about how to help the Blaine Food Bank, visit blainefoodbank.org.
