FRANKFORT-- When President Trump announced the tariffs with China, farmers realized the tariffs were going to hurt them. Seeing that, the Trump Administration, and the USDA came up with a plan they hoped would help. But now that the program is in place, some say it has brought its own set of problems.

Trying to help farmers, the USDA announced a plan to buy about $1.2 billion of food products from farmers. They said they would donate that food to food banks in the Feeding America program. While in Kentucky in August, Wilbur Ross, the Secretary of Commerce said farmers are a priority for him. He said, "We think it's plenty of money to handle the immediate situation, but the President is not going to let farmers go down the drain."

 

 

Kurt Reiber, the Chair of the Kentucky Association of Food Banks says that was happy news, especially since the food donation would be nutritious items like meat, produce, and dairy. "One out of seven of our neighbors in the Commonwealth are dealing with food insecurity, that means they don't know where their next meal is coming from, so this USDA food is coming at a critical time for many of those neighbors."

Reiber, who is also the President of the Freestore Food Bank serving Northern Kentucky and Cincinatti, says need is up this year, "We've really had probably a little bit of a tick up in the amount of food that's been required, primarily because we have the families that are working, and we're really trying to serve a lot of the working poor." He explained that a lot of Kentuckians are living paycheck to paycheck, often working multiple jobs. When they have an unexpected emergency, or even something like needing new tires, that is often crushing for them, bringing them to local food banks for help. 

Reiber says the food will go far, but that in itself is also a hardship. To get to people, the food has to literally go far, traveling to food banks across the Commonwealth. 

Food banks operate similar to a large corporation. Feeding America is the parent non-profit. Under that umbrella falls regional food banks, where food is stored and distributed. From there, local non-profits make regular trips to the larger food banks and pick up supplies. They then take the food to their centers, which is where people can pick up food for themselves and their families. 

"While we're getting the great, nutritious food, the challenge is that we don't get any transportation, distribution or storage costs associated with that. And let's face it, keeping the lights on and doors open at our distribution centers takes some money," said Reiber. 

Food banks already receive help from the Federal government, but according the the Financial Times, the tariff bailout increases the amount the USDA donates by more than 50 percent, but with no additional money for food banks.​ Reiber says that's unusual. He explained, "When we received USDA commodities we do receive administrative support costs."

The extra food is expected to cost $200 million in storage and distribution. That is where food bank, and the Kentucky Association of Food Banks are asking lawmakers to intervene.

 

 

 "We're asking out legislators in Congress and in the Senate to basically think and look at this and see how they can replicate what they do in the normal USDA commodities distribution," said Reiber.

After learning of their problem, Spectrum News 1 reached out to all six of Kentucky's members of Congress as well as both Senators. Congressman John Yarmuth's office said they are very concerned about this issue and want to help however they can. A spokesperson for their office said they will be calling KAFB to see how they can help fix this problem.

Reiber says if they don't get the money, it will hurt them. "We're going to basically go out and fundraise in order to make that happen. Or possibly diverting funds from one program in order to cover the costs of the additional food that we get in. So, it's really a Catch-22 that we find ourselves in."

While they are hoping to get federal money, KAFB says they are also looking for support from the community. Because of partnerships they have with different groups, they are able to provide six meals for every dollar donated.