In the Face of Federal Cuts, Local Food Pantries Call on Community
Excelsior Springs, Mo. — Federal funding cuts to U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition programs may now be translated to the local level, affecting established food pantry programs in Excelsior Springs.
Funding cuts to the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and other programs have directly impacted Harvesters—a major food bank partner—and, in turn, two local food pantries, Meet the Need and the Good Samaritan Center. As these organizations are working to prevent unforeseen challenges, their resolve to continue providing services remains strong despite uncertainties.
These federal programs incentivized food pantries to buy from local farmers and also ensured a supply of free and reduced-price commodity foods provided by the USDA. Programs like these helped Harvesters – a Kansas City-born food bank – grow to distribute tens of millions of pounds of food per year to communities across the Kansas City metro and beyond.
Matt Hamer, a representative from Harvesters, explained that although the company does not rely solely on federal funding, the cut to TEFAP accounts for approximately 4% of all of their annual distribution. Upwards of 41,000 cases of food had already been ordered through the federal TEFAP program before being cancelled abruptly. Hamer explained that these cases were supposed to arrive at their distribution centers in early April, so Harvesters expects the largest impacts of these cuts to begin soon.
The federal programs, including TEFAP, provided what they call commodities – high-quality nutritious food, like eggs, meat, and dairy – in addition to other foods like produce and canned goods, and sometimes fun extras such as birthday cakes.
Hamer added that while the organization is actively seeking alternative sources to replace the lost shipments, the uncertainty and increased community needs are making it difficult to plan ahead.
Local Impacts
For several local food pantries, the federal funding cuts aren’t numbers on a spreadsheet—they directly impact the quality and quantity of meals provided to the community.
Kristen Mosley and Sara Noblet, representatives of The Good Samaritan Center, explained that while they are not currently concerned about their funding as an organization overall, their buying power for commodity goods has now decreased by 30%. Instead of paying for high-quality food for $0.25 cents on the dollar through Harvester’s pantry, it has gone up to $0.55 cents – accompanied by a noticeable difference in stock and availability of items.
Mosley elaborated, “Our partnership with Harvesters has always given us access to lower prices on food items. With these cuts, we’re not only receiving fewer free commodities, but we’re also paying significantly more for the items we do purchase. It’s a double-edged sword that forces us to look for new sources for meat, canned goods, and other necessities.”
Mosely explained that even if they choose different suppliers or local grocery stores, their buying power has decreased and that directly affects how frequently they can provide meals to those in need.
The cancellation of these shipments has already forced the center to reassess its distribution schedule. They are now operating on a week-by-week basis instead of planning month-to-month. They explained that without an increase in donations or alternative funding, their clients may receive fewer deliveries—perhaps just two deliveries of food instead of the usual three each week.
At Meet the Need, a similar story is unfolding. Food Manager Arcelia Quiroz described how the funding cuts have altered the ordering process. “Our free items from Harvesters have been drastically reduced. In our last order, we saw two pages of items that we had to pay for. Without the free commodities, we’re forced to absorb additional costs like a $300 delivery charge if we order less than 600 pounds,” She stressed that the sudden shift means that every extra expense can make a critical difference in an organization already operating on tight margins.
For Meet the Need, Harvesters also acts as a liaison between their food pantry and grocery stores in Excelsior Springs to receive items that would have otherwise been wasted. Walmart donates items like meat and fresh produce weekly and even donates clearance toys that fuel Meet the Need’s free Christmas shop.
Quiroz explained that over the past month, while buying power has been decreasing, she has also seen an increase in families frequenting their food pantry. She noted at least 10 additional families have been coming through their food lines each week, on top of their existing recipients, totaling the number of families they assist upwards of 40-60 per week.
She explained that some of the families they serve put themselves at risk by stretching their supplies as far as possible. At times, they even choose to skip a week or two to ensure there’s enough available for other families. She stressed that those seeking help are often low-income, working individuals, and there’s been a noticeable rise in adults without children who now need assistance.
When Meet the Need has extra produce or food that wasn’t distributed through its food pantry, it also allows other local food pantries that do not have access to Harvesters to come through to collect it, further showing the impact on rural pantries if stock is affected.
While Harvesters representatives are hopeful that these federal cuts to TEFAP and other programs will not have an impact on their other services, Quiroz shared concerns that in the event Harvesters cannot facilitate donations through grocery stores, or if the donations stopped altogether, they would face a major need in other sources of food and toiletries.
One bright spot is that Zion KC’s monthly food distribution event, City Love, is not expected to see disruptions. Zion’s lead pastor, Brandon Block, said their deliveries are through Harvesters’ mobile pantry, which at this time has not been impacted by cuts.
A Call for Community Engagement
In response to the funding cuts, both local food pantries and Harvesters are adapting their strategies and doubling down on their effort to provide. The Good Samaritan Center, for example, is intensifying its outreach. Noblet mentioned an upcoming community event aimed at rallying local donations, “We’re organizing a food drive and a donor appreciation event. We’re not giving up. We need every bit of support we can get.”
Similarly, Mosely is compiling a comprehensive directory of local services—what she calls “Luke’s List”—to help individuals navigate the changing landscape of available resources. It is aimed at connecting clients directly with other agencies and services available within a 300-mile radius. While this list is still being created, it is the first of its kind.
At Meet the Need, Quiroz explained the need for community involvement to help bridge the gap left by federal cutbacks. “Donations make a difference,” she remarked, “every donation, no matter how small, helps us offset the impact of these cuts.” She insists that it is often the small everyday efforts of the community that result in continuing services.
Matt Hamer from Harvesters emphasized the human side of the issue, stating, “This is not about ideology; it’s about ensuring that people who depend on these programs continue to receive the food they need.” He noted that their partners, whether food pantries, soup kitchens, or community centers, are united in a single mission: feeding families. Hamer added that everyone at Harvesters is working diligently to prevent any interruption or cancellation of services.
For many in Excelsior Springs and the surrounding region, the message is clear: while federal funding may be uncertain, the community’s commitment to support one another remains constant.
Meet the Need, the Good Samaritan Center, and Harvesters are encouraging community members to volunteer, donate food and funds, and to advocate for their organizations. Just like the families they serve need them, our local food pantries need Excelsior Springs.
Taking Action
You can read more about the Good Samaritan Center, their hours, ways to donate, and needed items by clicking here. The Food Pantry welcomes visitors on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It operates from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., and then from 1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Meet the Need operates an assistance center, thrift store, and Opportunity Cafe, with proceeds going back to its mission. Its food pantry is open every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. An appointment is required to visit the pantry; please call its stores anytime at (816) 630-5221 to leave a message and receive a call back to schedule.
Zion KC will continue their monthly event City Love every fourth Saturday of the month, starting at 12 p.m. until they run out of supplies. The best way to stay up to date with upcoming events is through their Facebook page.
If you’d like to donate to Harvesters directly and read more about their mission and values, please visit their website.
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