Some faith-based groups taking part in USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box giveaway, the Trump administration’s answer to hunger during the pandemic, are mixing religion with their taxpayer-financed charity work, reported The Counter on Tuesday. The groups include letters saying the food is a gift from God or cards with Bible verses in the boxes, put church logos on the boxes, or pray with recipients.
Federal regulations prohibit churches and other faith-based groups from explicit religious activities as part of government-funded events. The USDA told The Counter that food-box distributors were required to adhere to those guidelines. It also said faith-based groups could “express religious beliefs in the distribution of food boxes, as long as the activity does not disrupt the distribution of USDA benefits or make receipt of USDA benefits contingent on participation in religious activities or assent to religious beliefs.”
Legal experts said some of the incidents chronicled by The Counter crossed the line beyond what was permissible. “They are instances where it appears that benefits are being conditioned on engaging in religious activity,” said David Barkey of the Anti-Defamation League. “People shouldn’t have to choose between going hungry and engaging in religious activity they don’t want.”
The USDA says 100 million food boxes had been invoiced as of Tuesday. President Trump allocated an additional $1 billion to the initiative in August, so it will spend $4 billion in all. Critics have questioned whether the food box is a fair or efficient way to help families.