Food banks across the US brace for impact as Trump administration halts more than $500M in funding — here’s how to make ends meet even as food prices are poised to keep rising

A dire situation for food banks

As part of a broad government overhaul that was implemented earlier this year, the USDA has faced significant funding cuts and is scrambling in that aftermath. But it's hungry Americans who stand to suffer.

In March, the USDA cut funding earmarked for two key programs — the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), which provided funds to child care facilities and schools, and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), which provided local food banks with funding.

Despite low unemployment levels, many Americans are struggling to afford groceries due to inflation. Between 2020 and 2024, U.S. food prices rose 23.6%, reports the USDA. And because of this, many households have grown increasingly reliant on food banks.

In April, the Atlanta Community Food Bank provided Newsweek with an update on its service, saying that the number of people it serves has increased by 60% over the last three years — and that's just one example.

At a time when food banks are serving more people than ever, a reduction in funding can be devastating. In late March, CNN reported that the Central California Food Bank, which distributes food to dozens of pantries in the county, was told that $850,000 worth of food deliveries slated for the April to June timeframe had been canceled.

“My food bank in Fresno can’t magically come up with $850,000 and 500,000 pounds of food to backfill that cancellation,” Natalie Caples, the Central California Food Bank’s co-CEO, shared with CNN.

Compounding the problem is that in the absence of USDA food deliveries, many local food banks don’t know where else to turn.

"Food banks were already maxing out their supply chains," said Hall to PBS. "They were already going to every conceivable donor, looking for every conceivable pound of food and asking every community to support. And so the reality is, we're going to be short."

Invest in real estate without the headache of being a landlord

Imagine owning a portfolio of thousands of well-managed single family rentals or a collection of cutting-edge industrial warehouses. You can now gain access to a $1B portfolio of income-producing real estate assets designed to deliver long-term growth from the comforts of your couch.

The best part? You don’t have to be a millionaire and can start investing in minutes.

Learn More

How Americans can put food on the table

In late 2024, Swiftly reported that 70% of Americans were struggling to afford groceries.

The Urban Institute also found that in 2023, 19.3% of Americans paid for groceries using savings that had initially been earmarked for other purposes. Not only that, but 20% of Americans paid for groceries with a credit card and did not manage to pay the full balance.

If you're struggling to put food on the table and your local food bank seems to have a limited supply, there may be other resources you can tap.

First, it pays to see if you qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, but eligibility can vary by state. Your best bet is to contact your local state office to see if you may be eligible.

You can also see if you qualify for benefits through WIC — a "special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children" — and the best way to go about that is to apply through a local agency where you live.

If your local food bank's resources can't meet your needs, another option is to see if a local house of worship can assist, as they may have their own food assistance programs in place.

Another thing worth doing is checking to see if any local restaurants in your area have programs where they distribute excess food at the end of the day or week. You can also see if there are any community restaurants in your area that welcome diners who can't afford to pay, free of charge.

New Jersey's JBJ Soul Kitchen is one such example. The restaurant serves both paying and non-paying customers, and diners are encouraged to explore volunteer opportunities to keep that effort going.

There are also steps you can take to feed your family on a very tight budget. First, plan your meals in advance based on what’s on sale at local supermarkets. Also, turn to discount grocers and dollar stores to stock up on as many essentials as possible.

Finally, if there are farms in your area, you may also find that you’re able to buy fresh produce at a lower price than what a supermarket will charge. Purchasing produce directly from the farm could help with keeping costs down as well.