The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts recently received troubling news: the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has canceled a portion of its food deliveries through August — an estimated $440,000 worth of food we were counting on. While this represents only 1% of our total distribution last year, it’s a serious shortfall that will force us to draw on emergency reserves to purchase food. Even more concerning are the proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These cuts would deepen food insecurity across western Massachusetts and further strain our already overburdened food assistance network.

Based in Chicopee, the Food Bank supplies nutritious food to 194 local pantries and meal sites across all four counties of western Massachusetts. When families can’t afford enough groceries, they turn to this network — already pushed to its limits. SNAP is more than a safety net — it’s the front line against hunger. Each month, SNAP supports 194,000 people in our region and injects $35 million into the local economy. With an average benefit of just $6.20 per person per day, any cut would leave even more families unable to afford food, especially as grocery prices continue to rise.

Funding cuts to SNAP and further cuts to USDA food directly to food banks would be catastrophic. The high cost of living, unpredictable policy changes, and diminished federal support pose a significant threat to the well-being of people in every town and city in western Massachusetts. What does this mean for our community? The Food Bank remains committed to providing nutritious food to people when and where they need it across our region. The Food Bank will:

■Continue to provide nutritious food without interruption.

■Raise additional funds to purchase food.

■Work with our federal and state legislators to defend critical federal nutrition programs.

Without adequate government and private sector support and investment, not only will individuals go hungry, but the entire food economy — from food banks to grocers to farms — will be severely impacted. It is both shortsighted and unjust to slash food assistance while so many working families, seniors, children, and others on fixed incomes are struggling to meet their basic needs.

This is a moment for us to come together as we always do in western Massachusetts. We urge our congressional delegation to continue standing up against these cuts and protecting the programs that keep nutritious food on people’s tables and money flowing into local businesses. Visit foodbankwma.org/get-involved/advocate/take-action to contact your legislators. Thank you for standing with us — and for one another. Together, we end hunger.

Andrew Morehouse is executive director, and Charlotte Boney is board president of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Chicopee.