Our Statement on USDA Elimination of Vital Hunger Data

Anyone who’s been to the grocery store lately knows that fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat are some of the most expensive items on the list. The high costs make it difficult for families to afford healthy, locally sourced food – so it’s no wonder that these products are in high demand at local pantries and no-cost markets. 

That’s where our partners in the food and agriculture industries come in, with donations that sustain our shared fight to end hunger. Just one recent example: our friends at Perdue Farms came through with an incredible Hunger Action Month donation of a full semi-trailer full of enough chicken to fuel over 34,000 meals for local families! The donation is part of Perdue’s "Fill the Food Gap" initiative, which has shared more than 800,000 pounds of protein so far to food banks along the east coast. 

Politicians in Washington voted to slash the federal safety nets that help millions of people in North Carolina afford food and medicine. They know their decisions will worsen our hunger crisis, and now they're attempting to hide the evidence by eliminating impact data that has been available to the public for decades.

Administrative changes at the USDA can't erase the reality our communities face every day: the price of groceries remains out of reach for far too many families — and more people are seeking food assistance today than any point in the past 20 years.

Our hunger relief network relies on this data to target resources where they're needed most, especially in rural communities where services are more difficult to access. The General Assembly and state agencies need reliable data to make smart investments in the most effective programs. This information takes even greater importance when tight budgets require tough decisions — and there are no shortage of difficult fiscal discussions underway right now.

We need our Members of Congress to understand the impact this irresponsible decision will have on  kids, seniors, and people with disabilities across North Carolina. It's incredibly important that we all make our voices heard and urge elected leaders to restore vital hunger data.

– Jason Kanawati Stephany, Food Bank Vice President

Support from food industry partners like Perdue Farms is instrumental to bridge a food gap that leaves millions of families nationwide struggling to access essential nutrition on a consistent basis. More than 607,000 people face hunger across central and eastern North Carolina — the highest point since the Great Recession. Hunger relief organizations are seeing more people seeking food assistance than the peak of the pandemic, and the numbers are expected to grow significantly as federal cuts to food and healthcare support go into effect. Perdue’s donation is critical in ensuring families have access to high-quality protein necessary for healthy development and well-being. 

Perdue Farms’ donation will reach local families through the Food Bank’s network of 700+ local pantries, no-cost markets, meal sites, and delivery programs across its 34-county service area. The support expands on Perdue’s longtime partnership with the Food Bank, including ongoing protein donations, associate groups volunteering at our distribution centers, and support in awareness-building and advocacy to meet the rising hunger crisis head-on. 

Politicians in Washington voted to slash the federal safety nets that help millions of people in North Carolina afford food and medicine. They know their decisions will worsen our hunger crisis, and now they're attempting to hide the evidence by eliminating impact data that has been available to the public for decades.

Administrative changes at the USDA can't erase the reality our communities face every day: the price of groceries remains out of reach for far too many families — and more people are seeking food assistance today than any point in the past 20 years.

Our hunger relief network relies on this data to target resources where they're needed most, especially in rural communities where services are more difficult to access. The General Assembly and state agencies need reliable data to make smart investments in the most effective programs. This information takes even greater importance when tight budgets require tough decisions — and there are no shortage of difficult fiscal discussions underway right now.

We need our Members of Congress to understand the impact this irresponsible decision will have on  kids, seniors, and people with disabilities across North Carolina. It's incredibly important that we all make our voices heard and urge elected leaders to restore vital hunger data.

– Jason Kanawati Stephany, Food Bank Vice President

Perdue Farms has a long-standing commitment to fighting hunger and supporting communities. This Hunger Action Month program builds on Perdue Farms’ decades-long commitment to fighting hunger through their Delivering Hope to Our Neighbors outreach, focused on improving quality of life and building strong communities. Since 2000, Perdue has delivered the equivalent of 89 million meals in its efforts to help alleviate food insecurity throughout the region. We are proud to partner with Perdue Farms in the fight to end hunger.