Anti- hunger groups remove Trump letter from boxes

A coalition of anti- hunger groups in Denver announced Wednesday that it has been removing a letter written by President Donald Trump from boxes of food paid for by the federal government before distributing those boxes to needy families.

Under a U. S. Department of Agriculture program called Farmers to Families, boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy and meat are distributed by local nonprofits and anti- hunger organizations. In September, the USDA mandated the boxes include a letter from Trump touting the federal program and listing several sanitation tips.

The Denver Community Food Access Coalition says that letter, printed on White House letterhead, is a politicization of federal aid and contains outdated public health information. The letter advises people to “consider wearing a face covering when in public,” rather than directly tell people to wear a face covering.

“Politicizing the one lifeline Colorado families have left during this health pandemic and economic crisis by putting these letters in food boxes is shameful and degrading,” said Christine Alford, executive director of Denver Food Rescue, a member of the food access coalition.

The USDA, reached for comment Wednesday, defended the president’s letter, which is printed in English and Spanish. The letter does not mention the election.

“Politics has played zero role in the Farmers to Families food box program — it is purely about helping farmers and distributors get food to Americans in need during this unprecedented time,” the agency said in an email. “The letter from President Trump has been included for several months now and contains health information that is critical to slowing the spread of COVID- 19.”