The Emergency Food Assistance Program, Reach and Resiliency – grants impacted communities across the country. (Photo: National Association of Counties)
The Emergency Food Assistance Program, Reach and Resiliency – grants impacted communities across the country. The Reach and Resiliency sub-grant funding from the Nebraska TEFAP agency identifies underserved areas and implements strategies to increase TEFAP access in those areas at the Food Bank of Lincoln.
To ensure that existing TEFAP resources were distributed equitably, some methods were as simple as increasing deliveries of reach and resiliency grants to specific communities.
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The Emergency Food Assistance Program, Reach and Resiliency – grants impacted communities across the country. (Photo: Hunger Solutions)
The deliveries expanded to four identified underserved counties by 21% during the first quarter of the grant, resulting in a 55% increase in TEFAP pounds of food distributed to those areas compared to the previous year. TEFAP now serves more than 4,000 households in Butler, Fillmore, Otoe, and York counties. There are now 12 food access points in those counties and three additional non-profit partners involved in TEFAP operations.
“As food prices continue to rise, having the ability for increased deliveries to both of my rural food pantries is critical,” said a recent pantry partner. The number of food pantry clients doubled in the last few months, which is expected to continue. In rural areas, it is challenging for clients to obtain fresh produce, which is always in short supply. One head of lettuce now costs nearly $5 at our rural grocery stores, and with the price increases, 99% of our clients cannot afford something as simple as a head of lettuce.”
The TEFAP Reach and Resiliency Grant have helped the Food Bank of Lincoln deliver USDA TEFAP products to more of our neighbors in need. The grant has also expanded the use of data to identify convenient delivery areas and ensure a greater emphasis on communities’ consistent access to USDA TEFAP products. The program is near closing this inequity gap in the targeted four counties.
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