Bill would aid food banks
Feed the hungry.
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced the Food Donation Improvement Act of 2019 to the Senate this month with hopes it will help food banks collect and distribute more food to needy families.
“Hunger does exist in this county. I have a feeling there are a lot of pockets of folks out there that we don't know about,” said Janine Kennedy of Alliance for Nonprofit Resources, which manages the Butler County Food Bank.
Kennedy said the bipartisan bill would likely have a direct impact on the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, increasing its stock, which should trickle down to local food pantries.
“We actually get a lot of products from them,” Kennedy said. “Sometimes it's lean, but sometimes, it's a whole truckload of stuff.”
According to a news release, Toomey's bill would help sell prepared dishes like microwaveable dinners for a nominal cost by extending liability protections to food donors when food is either given directly to a person in need or when a recipient pays a deeply reduced cost.
The proposed legislation would also require USDA to issue regulations clarifying the quality and labeling standards donated food must meet.
“Donating food to the less fortunate should be as easy as possible,” Toomey said.
The Food Donation Improvement Act, which is just starting its journey through Congress, is endorsed by 412 Food Rescue, Feeding Pennsylvania, Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic and Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association.
Jane Clements-Smith, executive director of Feeding Pennsylvania, said food banks serve donated food to more than 1.5 million people in the state who are food insecure.
“Thanks to Sen. Toomey and his Food Donation Improvement Act, we are hopeful that more farmers and retailers will feel comfortable donating food now that they will be protected from liability,” Clements-Smith said.
Lee Anne Hune, ministry and volunteer coordinator of the Lighthouse Foundation in Valencia, said any additional help would be a benefit to those in need. She said donations typically reach high numbers during the holidays but taper off throughout the year.
“Any time people are donating rather than throwing it away, the community would benefit,” Hune said.
Carol Lambert, coordinator of Feed My Sheep in Slippery Rock, said while the boost may be nice from the proposed legislation, it likely won't fill the void caused by the reduction of food stamps implemented by the Trump administration.
“If a family is working and trying to get ahead, they should not be penalized by reducing their food stamps because they make just a little bit more,” Lambert said. “They can't get ahead.”
Lewis Czzowitz, coordinator of the food pantry at St. Vincent de Paul in Butler, said his organization has been very blessed with donations from local residents, farmers and even businesses.
He said large corporate companies, like Giant Eagle, Walmart and Sheetz, among others, have not shied away from donating to St. Vincent de Paul.
“I can't complain,” Czzowitz said. “The people around here, they give so freely.”
He said the changes might increase the availability of some goods that may see lulls throughout the year.
“You always have that, you have the same old thing every day, but we're pretty good here with the variety,” Czzowitz said. “We're in pretty good shape that way.”
