Inflation makes it harder for food banks to help as need increases
THE REPORT ON WRAL TECH WIRE.
SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT POSITIONS
ARE IN DEMAND AND WHO'S HIRING.
LET'S TALK ABOUT INFLATION FOR
A MOMENT. IT HAS, OF COURSE,
DRIVEN UP THE COST OF LIVING.
YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S ALSO DRIVEN
UP THE COST FOR THOSE HELPING
PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP AND IS
QUICKLY SHIFTING ECONOMY.
>> WRAL'S MATT TALHELM IS LIVE
TO SHOW US THE IMPACT INFLATION
IS HAVING ON OUR LOCAL FOOD
BANKS. MATT.
>> YEAH, DAN, IT IS COSTING
THE FOODBANK MORE TO GET THESE
TRUCKS HERE INTO THE WAREHOUSE.
THEN OUT TO THE FAMILIES THAT
NEED THAT FOOD, THE FOOD THAT
GOES ON. THESE TRUCKS ALSO IS
COSTING MORE ALL OF THIS IS
ADDING UP AT A TIME WHEN
DONATIONS TO THE FOOD BANK OF
CENTRAL AND EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA ARE DOWN AND SOME OF
ITS BIGGEST SUPPLIERS ARE
GIVING LESS.
>> H PETS WE'RE NOT CARRIES
FROM HER CAR UP THE STAIRS INTO
THE FOOD PANTRY. SHE RUNS
PROVIDES SOME RELIEF FOR THE
FAMILIES WHO WALK THROUGH THE
BACK DOOR AT COVENANT LIFE
CHURCH IN CARY. PEOPLE COME IN
WITH A LOT OF BURDENS, NOT JUST
FOOD INSECURITY. THOSE BURDENS
ARE BIGGER WITH RISING COSTS
ALL AROUND THE 3 DAY A WEEK
FOOD PANTRY SERVED MORE THAN
300 PEOPLE IN THE LAST MONTH.
THAT'S 50 MORE THAN THE MONTH
BEFORE. IT IS A BIG INCREASE.
WE'RE SERVING MORE PEOPLE WERE
SERVING NEW. ARE PEOPLE TOO.
>> THAT ARE COMING IN. BUT
DONATIONS TO FILL. THE FRIDGE
IS IN STOCK. THE SHELVES ARE
DOWN 50% DID DONATIONS THAT
WE'RE GETTING FROM. THE
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DOWN SINCE
PRICES HAVE BEEN UP AND
INFLATION HAS BEEN RISING.
COSTS ARE PUTTING A STRAIN ON
THE SUPPLY OF FOOD AVAILABLE
WHEN DEMAND FOR ASSISTANCE IS
UP. 39% AT THE FOOD BANK OF
CENTRAL AND EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA. WE'RE DOING THE BEST
WE CAN TO KEEP THE FLOW OF FOOD
CONSISTENT END OF THE BUT THIS
SUMMER IS GOING TO BE A BIT
TOUGH.
AND COSTS ARE UP 20%. AT THE
SAME TIME, THE FOOD BANK IS
MOVING TWICE AS MANY TRUCKLOADS
TO MEET THE DEMANDS. ITS PAYING
40% MORE TO PURCHASE FOOD.
>> SOME OF THAT IS TO MAKE UP
FOR A 10% DROP IN DONATIONS
FROM GROCERY STORES. WHAT WE'RE
SEEING NOW IS KIND OF A PERFECT
STORM OF
>> INCREASE COSTS FOR EVERYBODY
ACROSS THE BOARD, INCLUDING OUR
RETAIL PARTNERS AND WANTING TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT
ACCESS FOOD OUT THERE. THERE'S
NO SUCH THING AS ACCESS FOR THE
FAMILIES WHO COME TO AN OS IOS
PANTRY EXPERIENCING HUNGER.
WE'RE FEEDING PEOPLE THAT NEED
FOOD. WE'RE ENCOURAGING THEM
WERE LOVING THAT. AND IF THEY
CAN JOIN US AND IN SUPPORTING
THAT EFFORT, THAT WOULD BE
WONDERFUL.
>> AND ALL THIS IS HAPPENING AT
THE SAME TIME AS FEDERAL
PANDEMIC AID IS COMING TO AN
END. THE FOOD BANK HERE RIGHT
NOW HAS THE STOP HUNGER
INITIATIVE THAT'S GOING ON
THROUGH THE END OF JULY.
SO CASH DONATIONS MADE UNTIL
THEN ARE ACTUALLY DOUBLED THE
FOOD BANK CAN TAKE ONE DOLLAR
AND PAY FOR 5 MEALS STAND.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD TO KNOW MATT