Delaware lawmakers to hold food drives in Glasgow, Milford after food shipments halted

Delaware lawmakers will hold donation drives in Glasgow and Milford to support the Food Bank of Delaware after the nonprofit’s food deliveries were canceled by President Donald Trump. 

The Trump administration halted food aid shipments and funding earlier this month, resulting in a roughly 900,000 meal shortage for the Delaware food bank. The federal government’s actions have resulted in food banks across the country scrambling to make up for the shortfalls.  

In February alone, more than 50% of the food distributed by the Food Bank of Delaware came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Food Assistance Program, which supplies essential items to food banks across the country.  

Delaware Democratic legislators are hosting two donation drives to raise awareness of the recent cuts: 

• House Democrats will a food drive from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at the Food Bank of Delaware’s Glasgow location at 222 Lake Drive.  
• State senators will hold a similar donation drive at the food bank’s Milford location from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 3, at 102 Delaware Veterans Blvd. 

Rep. Eric Morrison, who is organizing the event, said he’s a regular volunteer at the food bank and has seen the increased demand for the nonprofit’s services. 

HOW TO HELP: How you can help the Food Bank of Delaware after Trump cancels food shipments

“Without the regular support from the USDA that they rely on, the Food Bank will not be able to feed all of the Delawareans in need,” he said in a news release Friday. “Now is the time that we must band together and do what we can to assist the Food Bank and our neighbors in need.” 

Delaware legislators are inviting residents to take part in the food drive by donating to the Food Bank. Most-needed items include: hot and cold cereals, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meats, rice and pasta.   

For more information on how to donate to or volunteer with the Food Bank of Delaware, visit www.fbd.org/get-involved.  

Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com.