A federal program that helped connect food pantries with local, often Indigenous food producers is being cut—and local providers say the impact could be devastating.
Kirbi Foster of Good Samaritan Food Pantry in Cortez says funding from the USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program made it possible to source culturally relevant foods—like blue corn mush, sumac berries, and other traditional staples—from Native farmers across the Four Corners region.
"Until this funding, we were unable to make much of an impact on that goal," Foster said. "It really infused local community food systems with the support they needed."
The pantry used LFPA funds—channeled through partnerships with organizations like Nourish Colorado, Good Food Collective, and Care and Share Food Bank—to run community-supported agriculture programs for WIC families and elders, and to purchase local meat and produce.
But as of this spring, federal priorities shifted. Pantry leaders were told the funding had been paused and rescinded for 2025.
"These needs—these basic human needs—are no longer a priority," said Foster. “We're not going to give up, but we have to shift.”
The cut comes on top of broader declines in food security funding, rising grocery prices, and the rollback of pandemic-era SNAP and Medicaid benefits. Good Sam’s now serves nearly double the number of households it did this time last year, and Foster expects that to grow.
Despite the setbacks, Good Sam’s is moving forward—connecting with other regional food access organizations, offering garden classes, and maintaining strong relationships with local producers.
Still, Foster says they’ll need help from the community. “Volunteer. Donate. Just stop by and say hi. These little things make a huge difference.”
