The Feeding America network of food banks is in every county in the country, and its programs help provide meals to children, seniors, families, and survivors of natural disasters.
Feeding America says inflation and phasing out pandemic food-assistance programs will likely worsen the hunger crisis.
According to Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer with Feeding America, a majority of food banks – 85 percent – are seeing higher or equal demand for food assistance compared to last month. “That is a staggering reflection of just how severe the problem of hunger is in the United States and the effects of supply chain disruptions and inflation which are making this so much harder,” says Hall.
Inflation is causing more people to need food assistance and it’s making it harder for Feeding America to serve the same number of people. “Purchasing food that isn’t donated that is necessary to complete a nutritious diet to paying for cold storage and coolers to taking care of fresh fruits and vegetables, are an important part of our work. All of those costs are significantly higher today than they were a year ago,” explains Hall. “Emergency benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will expire, which that will only exacerbate the problem. That is an extraordinary reduction of food-purchasing power for the most vulnerable families in our communities. These COVID-related SNAP enhancements amount to about $3 billion a month, which is going to be withdrawn from the American economy.”
Hall says, on average, participants will lose $82 a month in SNAP benefits, and for the people who qualify for the minimum benefits, the allotment drops from $250 to $20.
Editor’s Take:
Inflation is a silent, insidious tax that reduces purchasing power, especially on the poor and even middle-class Americans. This article points to the devastating impact inflation is having on families when wages are not keeping pace. In addition, many elderly are on fixed incomes and are often forced to make untenable decisions and trade-offs between food, gas for their vehicle, home payments or even essential medical care and medications. It’s real, it’s here and it’s hurting a lot of people. A major way we can help is by donating to food banks in each of our communities.
