Effective January 1, 2014, GrayRobinson attorney Richard Blau, has been appointed chair of Feeding America Tampa Bay. The largest food bank in Central Florida, Feeding America Tampa Bay is responsible for collecting and distributing over 60 percent of all food-related donations across ten counties.
"’Ending Hunger, Nourishing Hope’ is the mission of Feeding America Tampa Bay," says Blau. Hunger-free initiatives across the nation are taking root in small towns and counties as well as in major metropolitan areas. Led by elected officials and volunteers, these initiatives are formed around the core belief that to end hunger at the community level, a broad range of community stakeholders must unite behind a common vision and strategy.
Feeding America Tampa Bay feeds over 700,000 of Central Florida’s neediest residents. Serving 10 counties across the state admittedly is daunting, and national events have not made the situation any easier.
Economic stimulus spending dedicated to funding America’s food stamp program, in place since 2009 due to the Great Recession, expired on November 1, 2013. As a result, $5 billion is being cut from the federal government’s 2014 budget for the food stamp program, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Congressional observers and food policy experts anticipate that federal budget negotiations are likely to result in further cuts as conservative lawmakers push for lower government spending in entitlement programs like food stamps for the poor.
On the "macro" level, the immediate and automatic cut of $5 billion for fiscal year 2014 will increase dependency on charity for food, one of the most basic things in life. Also, the cuts will affect America’s economic recovery, as fewer dollars will be spent on food. Because the end of the stimulus program will reduce federal food stamp spending by $5 billion in 2014, every state will be affected.
On the "micro" level, the automatic cuts translate into 21 fewer meals a month for a family of four, or 16 fewer meals for a family of three, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Moreover, these cuts will be felt in every community across America. USDA data demonstrate that 18% of Florida’s population will depend on some level of SNAP support to get by. That equates to 3,522,000 Floridians using food stamps to fight hunger.
The average dollar value SNAP benefit per Florida household in 2012 was $255. However, that amount will now be reduced as a result of the November 2013 cut. Of the $5 billion in reduced spending, Floridians will lose $379,000,000.
According to data released by Stateline, a news source of the Pew Charitable Trusts, the SNAP cuts will affect 1,303,000 children in Florida. The number of elderly and disabled SNAP recipients who will be affected is estimated by Stateline to be 713,000. For the past three years, each year, the number of our neighbors in need of food assistance has grown by 100,000. 28% of our area’s children live with hunger.
In the past 12 months, Feeding America Tampa Bay has distributed more than 30 million pounds of food – enough to provide more than a million and a half meals every month. But it isn’t easy, and it’s going to get tougher.
In contrast to the growing need, supplies of non-perishable food (historically a food bank staple) actually have declined steadily over the past few years. Yet, as the food bank steps up to do more, its costs increase as well. Transportation expenses have grown as the food bank’s fleet has tripled in size to service the sprawling expansion of the retail donation programs. With 10 trucks on the road all day every day to pick up product donations from hundreds of grocery stores in west central Florida, the meter is running every minute to pay for drivers, fuel and truck maintenance.
It is against the backdrop of these challenging times that Blau and his fellow food bank directors take up the challenge to fight the ravages of hunger in Florida. The team at Feeding America Tampa Bay works tirelessly to grow the organization’s capacity, increase the operation’s efficiency and adapt programs to reflect the new reality of hunger in the region. The board of directors is instrumental to achieving the food bank’s mission, and Blau is looking forward to his term as Board Chair:
"I am confident in the food bank’s solid infrastructure, our board members’ key collaborations, and our organization’s commitment to singular stewardship for the citizens of Central Florida," says Blau. "Our vision remains to lead the mission of ‘Ending Hunger, Nourishing Hope’ in the Tampa Bay community."
Richard M. Blau is the chair of GrayRobinson's Alcohol Beverage and Food Department and leads the firm’s Food Industry Team, focusing on the rules and regulations that govern the production, importation, distribution, marketing, sale and consumption of food and beverage products. Richard devotes a substantial portion of his practice to trade regulation, litigation and dispute resolution involving the hospitality industry. He has industry-specific experience in the areas of administrative practice and regulatory compliance, advertising and promotional law, importation matters, and supplier/distribution relations. An elected member of The American Law Institute, Richard is also a member of The Florida Bar, The State Bar of New York, The Bar Association of the District of Columbia, the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Richard received his B.A. from Brandeis University, and his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he served as the associate editor for Topics of the Georgetown Law Journal.