Government-funded food commodities reallocated

If the State Board of Education’s decision to reallocate distribution of federally funded food commodities stands, Gary Gilbert will have an unthinkable decision to make.

A new eligibility formula cuts food support to 36 percent of Osceola County households now receiving the aid.

“We have to cut 126 families off of this. My question is — how do we decide who gets food and who doesn’t?” asked Gilbert, executive director of Mid-Michigan Community Action Agency.

Osceola County citizens are not the only ones who’d receive less assistance.“This is a major impact on all counties north of US 10,” Gilbert said. “The U.P. counties are dramatically affected, some losing 60-plus percent.”

MMCAA acts as an emergency food provider, distributing the government food commodities quarterly, primarily to seniors. A typical allocation contains 35 pounds of staple items such as rice, peanut butter, juice, vegetables and powdered milk.

“They drive 20 to 40 miles and wait in line for up to an hour to get the food,” Gilbert said. “It’s a major program or they wouldn’t do it. It’s not supplemental. It’s a main staple. Without the food, they can’t buy prescriptions. I hope to fight to get it restored.”

Reductions do not reflect a cut in federal funding. The new formula is to be phased in over a four-year period beginning in January. The program is administered by the Department of Education in conjunction with food commodities distribution to schools.

“The way the state distributes the funds, administrative dollars and food, has not changed in 25 years. It was not done on a scientific method or based on hard numbers,” said Mary Ann Chartrand, director of grants, coordination and school support for the Michigan Department of Education.

The newly adopted formula, already in use by many states, combines unemployment and U.S. census poverty data, she said. Some counties will experience increases in aid and others reductions.

“There is a certain number of people we can serve in the State of Michigan with the food and money we have,” she said. “It’s a difficult situation and there is no good answer.”

Gilbert said the formula fails to address the fact that in urban areas people have alternative resources for food aid, including food banks. We have only food pantries.

“There isn’t someone else to take up the slack,” he said. “They didn’t factor in there are already people providing services in these other areas.”

Chartrand said the new distribution process will be evaluated following a trial phase and that she would consider any ideas that would be fair and equitable throughout the state.

“This is a year of transition,” Chartrand explained. “We will reassess how things are and if there is a way we can make it better, we’ll make an adjustment a year or two out.”

MMCAA has secured resolutions from county commissions in each of the six counties the agency services supporting a stop to the reallocation. Once the state budget is resolved, Gilbert plans to take the commodities issue to state legislators.

“Our intent is to meet with legislators to request their support to change the formula back and meet with the Department of Education to make that happen,” he said.

sbarber@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397)