Care and Share sees cuts to food supply

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Care and Share, the largest food bank in Southern Colorado, is facing significant challenges due to recent federal budget cuts affecting the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

The USDA’s recent budget cuts have left food banks nationwide scrambling to adjust, and Care and Share is no exception. Serving 29 counties across Southern Colorado, the organization is now looking for creative ways to compensate for the loss of federal funding.

“One of the deepest cuts we’ve seen since a lot of those programs have started,” said Nate Springer, CEO of Care and Share.

The food bank is losing 37% of its supply, which amounts to several million pounds of food, according to Springer. This reduction in supply is expected to lead to longer lines and less food available for those in need.

Springer emphasized the importance of SNAP, noting that for every meal Care and Share provides, SNAP delivers nine more. With SNAP reductions anticipated in October, the need for assistance is expected to rise further.

Despite the financial setback, Springer remains optimistic about Care and Share’s ability to continue supporting its 289 partner agencies across half the state. He is urging the community to donate food from their pantries to help bridge the gap.

Springer also suggests shopping locally at farmer’s markets as a way to find affordable food options.

Care and Share said it is committed to ensuring no one goes unfed, relying on the generosity of the community to help make up for the loss in federal support.

“I know we won’t be able to make up losing a couple of million pounds of food through the federal programs,” Springer said, “but we’ll make up a big, significant portion of it just because of the kindness and generosity of people in our community.”

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