REGION — As food prices rise, families feel the bite.
The cost of food rose 0.9 percent in October, the same as in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meat, poultry, …
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REGION — As food prices rise, families feel the bite.
The cost of food rose 0.9 percent in October, the same as in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meat, poultry, fish and eggs drove the increase, going up another 1.7 percent, after a 2.2 percent increase in September.
But the solution, “Let them eat at the food pantry,” is complicated by the same issue.
“Grocery store prices have gone up dramatically in the past 60 days,” Molly Nicol, CEO of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, wrote in an email. “This has led to an increase in the number of neighbors in need seeking assistance from the charitable food system.”
That need increased 40 percent during the height of the pandemic, she said. “Since July alone we have seen a 3.5 percent increase in need over the already high levels.” There’s been a 12-percent increase in food distribution since July.
With supply-chain issues and the rise in prices, food banks, like families, are under strain.
The Regional Food Bank has had trouble getting turkeys and meat, butter, cheese and graham crackers, which are used for the backpack program.
“Some of the supply chain challenge is due to the shortage of workers in the meat processing and food manufacturing environments,” Nicol said. “Some of the supply chain challenge is due to transportation obstacles.”
They’ve had to find replacements in other, more expensive sources.
And there’s the increase in the price of fuel. “Fuel costs have risen 40 percent year-over-year. This increases our cost to transport food to our partners and cost to collect food from our donors.”
The price increases, including food costs, mean that the food bank is spending “at least 15 percent more” on food than in the past, Nicol said.
In Sullivan County, at the Federation for the Homeless, program administrator Kathy Kreiter is dealing with slightly different problems.
Food donations have come in, and they have a food grant from the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.
But “our food grants do not cover operating expenses,” Kreiter said. And one wonders what will happen when the holiday food drives are over.
“Spread the word,” said Molly Nicol. “So more people understand the need.”
Monetary donations help with non-food expenses—consider the electricity that keeps perishables at the food bank safe to eat, or the fuel that their trucks use. Often donating money is the best and easiest way to help those in need, Nicol said. “We can provide four meals for every $1 donated.”
Volunteers are needed; the food bank alone uses 16,000 volunteers each year.
In Pennsylvania, there’s the CEO/Weinberg Food Bank at https://www.ceopeoplehelpingpeople.org/.
Wayne County, PA runs food pantries; visit https://www.waynecountypa.gov/169/Pantry for more information or learn how to donate.
In Pike County, Pike County Hands of Hope has a master list of food pantries in the county at https://pikecountyhoh.org/pike-county-food-pantry-list/.
Financial donations are important, but so is packaged food. Grab some items for donation bins when you do your grocery shopping. People in need don’t always have a way to cook food, so try to pick things that can be eaten from the package if need be. Find some soft items that don’t need much chewing. Buy cans with pull tabs in case someone doesn’t own a can opener. Grab some smaller cans for those without working refrigerators.
Food banks and pantries welcome donations, but there are rules to follow. Here are suggestions from a regional food bank and the national organization Feeding America.
Donation requirements at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
What NOT to donate, from Feeding America
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