USDA Expands Nutrition Assistance for Seniors Amid Pandemic

The Jacksonville Progress reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced expanded food assistance to low-income seniors, with nearly $37 million in additional support to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). States and Tribal nations will receive the additional funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act to support more seniors, plus up to $2.6 million in administrative funds from an earlier COVID relief bill. "By expanding the reach of CSFP and providing additional support to the states and tribes that administer the program, USDA is helping ensure that no senior has to worry where their next meal will come from," declared Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. ARP funding permits USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to broaden the reach of CSFP by meeting all 2021 requests from states to serve more seniors and adding the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes to the program. The extra $2.6 million apportionment will come from the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to cover increased administrative costs due to the pandemic.