Federal Cuts, Local Food Banks, and What Donors Can Do
This podcast conversation challenges common misconceptions about who needs food assistance and addresses debates about the roles of government and private philanthropy.
September 5, 2025 | Read Time: 1 minute
As federal funding cuts shift more responsibility for food insecurity to local communities, Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette talk with Julie Butner, president and CEO of the Tarrant Area Food Bank, one of the largest food banks in the United States, serving 13 counties around Fort Worth, Texas.
Butner reveals that food bank clients are often working families who simply can’t afford basic necessities and explains how modern food banks have evolved far beyond emergency food distribution to address root causes through health-care partnerships, nutrition education, and community gardens. This eye-opening conversation challenges common misconceptions about who needs food assistance and addresses debates about the roles of government and private philanthropy.
Butner also offers practical guidance on how donors can make the greatest impact, whether through volunteering, financial support, or advocacy.
We appreciate the opportunity to share this podcast and want to note that the interview was conducted by Buchanan and Nicolette with no involvement from the Chronicle’s newsroom.
