Pat Bebo News Today

Colorado is the eighth most-improved state at ensuring SNAP food assistance reaches its most vulnerable residents, according to new rankings from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Anya Rose, public policy manager for Hunger Free Colorado, said the improvements are largely due to more meaningful benefit levels and cuts to red tape during the pandemic, along with strong outreach work. ...

Many Texas families are still struggling financially post-COVID. Nonetheless, the state turned down millions of dollars in federal aid for summer food assistance to qualified low-income families. Texas was eligible for federal funds, which would have provided families $120 per month during the summer. ...

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has proclaimed July "Summer Meals for Kids and Teens Awareness Month," and some 645 sites are serving free meals across the state. Karen Raines Hunt helped the Laporte Presbyterian Church join a mobile Lunch Lab operated by the Food Bank of Larimer County - offering meals each Wednesday at the church, and at sports camps on the Colorado State University campus. ...

By Leah Shepard / Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. At Heart Reach Neighborhood Ministries in Youngstown, chief program officer April Alexander has seen countless people struggle to feed their families. According to Feeding America, Mahoning County, where Youngstown is located, had a food insecurity rate of 13.4% in 2021, meaning 30,670 people were without "access, at times, to enough food for a healthy, active life.&a...