A recent op-ed for the New York Times criticized the federal government’s approach to emergency food aid during the pandemic. The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program includes $3 billion for purchasing fresh food for food banks and other organizations serving people in need, but the piece argues that those organizations don’t have the infrastructure to handle the volume currently required. Instead, the article’s authors say the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)’s existing structure is equip to handle the situation.
This hour, our guests explore current emergency food aid, what the situation looks like locally, and what experts say the federal government should do to serve as many people as efficiently possible. Our guests:
- Mitch Gruber, chief strategy officer for Foodlink, and member of Rochester City Council
- Carmen Allen, president of Beyond the Sanctuary food pantry
- Belinda Knight, director of community operations for ACCORD, the Community Action Program in Allegheny County
