The holiday season is usually a time of joy and celebration, but for many Americans, it is also a time of struggle and hardship. As the country faces high inflation and supply shortages, food banks are under pressure to meet the extra demand from people who are facing food insecurity.
Food insecurity rate rose for the first time in more than a decade
According to the Department of Agriculture, the food insecurity rate rose last year for the first time in more than a decade, affecting about 38 million Americans. Food insecurity means that a household has difficulty providing enough food for all its members due to a lack of resources. The COVID-19 pandemic, the economic downturn, and the natural disasters have worsened the situation for many families.
Susannah Morgan, president of the Oregon Food Bank, said that the organization has seen a 40% increase in the number of people they serve since the pandemic began. She said that many of the people who come to the food bank are new clients who have never needed help before. “They are people who have lost their jobs, who have had their hours cut, who have had unexpected expenses, who have had medical bills, who have had childcare issues,” she said.
Food banks face rising costs and supply challenges
As the demand for food assistance grows, food banks are also facing challenges in obtaining and distributing food. The high inflation and the supply chain disruptions have made food more expensive and scarce. According to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, the average cost of a meal increased by 24% from 2019 to 2021, while the food donations decreased by 28%.
Liz Gomez, chief impact officer at the Alameda County Community Food Bank in California, said that the food bank has spent more on food in the past month than in the past six months combined. She said that the food bank has had to adjust its menu and offer alternatives to some items that are hard to find or too costly. For example, instead of turkeys, the food bank has offered chickens for the Thanksgiving meal. However, even chickens are in short supply, and some pantries have received only a fraction of what they requested.
Food banks innovate and collaborate to serve the community
Despite the difficulties, food banks are finding new ways to help the people in need. They are using technology, partnerships, and volunteers to reach more people and provide more services. For instance, some food banks have started drive-through or delivery services to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and to accommodate people who cannot leave their homes. Some food banks have also expanded their programs to offer nutrition education, health screenings, and financial assistance.
Erin Reed, executive director of the Trinity Jubilee Center in Maine, said that the center has collaborated with other organizations and businesses to provide more food and resources to the community. She said that the center has received donations from local farms, restaurants, and churches, as well as grants from foundations and corporations. She said that the center has also increased its staff and volunteers to serve more meals and distribute more bags of food. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure that people have enough to eat and that they feel supported and cared for,” she said.
Food banks need more support from the public and the government
Food banks are grateful for the generosity and solidarity of the donors, partners, and volunteers who have supported them throughout the pandemic. However, they also urge the public and the government to do more to address the root causes of hunger and poverty. They advocate for policies and programs that would increase the access and affordability of food, such as expanding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), increasing the minimum wage, and providing more affordable housing and health care.
Harald Herrmann, CEO of the Second Harvest Food Bank in California, said that the food bank is doing its best to meet the immediate needs of the people, but it is not enough to solve the long-term problem of hunger. He said that the food bank is not a substitute for a strong social safety net, and that the government has a responsibility to ensure that everyone has enough to eat. “We need to work together to create a more equitable and sustainable food system that can nourish everyone, especially the most vulnerable among us,” he said.
