FOOD BANKS SAVE LIVES BUT NEED OUR SUPPORT
E xtended federal unemployment benefits and stimulus checks helped people survive the pandemic. When the extra aid came to an end, along with the high inflation, hunger was on the rise again. Rising food and transportation costs have substantially affected people’s lives and non-profit organizations like food banks that help feed families in need (Dorning & Elkin, 2021). BY: LINCHI KWOK, PH.D. The grocery prices went up 6.4% in November from a year ago. People are also paying 50% more in gas prices in December. On December 14, the national average retail gas price reached $3.32 per gallon. Rising food and transportation costs mean more hardship, especially for the poorest fifth of households, who need to spend 27% of their income on food (vs. 7% among the highest earners). Consequently, some families turn to cheaper, less-nutritious foods as a temporary solution, but the unhealthy alternatives usually create lasting negative impacts on their health. CONCERNS ABOUT RISING FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS FOOD BANKS FEED PEOPLE IN NEED AND HELP THEM LIVE A MORE BALANCED LIFE According to the Food Bank for New York City (FBNYC), over 37.2 million U.S. residents, or 11.5%, are food insecure. To make the situation even worse, when the pandemic hit in early 2020, one in four Americans were skipping meals or had to rely on food donations (Leonhardt, 2020). In New York State, nearly 2.2 million residents (11.1%) are food insecure, of whom 50%, or 1.1 million, live in New York City. As a result, FBNYC provided over 100 million free meals in 2020 for New Yorkers in need. Through SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) and free tax assistance, FBNYC helped put nearly $38 million into New Yorkers’ pockets in 2020. Moreover, FBNYC also provided nutrition education programs to
help more than 23,000 people sustain a healthy diet and active lifestyle on a limited budget. FOOD BANKS NEED OUR SUPPORT Feeding America, a national network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, distributed 6.1 billion meals in 2020, three times the 2009 level. The total number of people seeking help also increased by 50% from 2019. Many people suggested it was their first time turning to food banks for help. Because of higher inflation, higher food and transportation costs, and fewer donations, the organization expected to see a 30% drop in food supplies. Without our help, it is uncertain if food banks can continue providing the necessary services to the people in need. In this season, let’s make a donation to our local food bank and help the people in need. n
CONTRIBUTING WRITER linchikwok.net REFERENCES Dorning, M. & Elkin, E. (2021, December 16). Child hunger tips into malnutrition in U.S. on food inflation. Bloomberg. Retrieved on December 16, 2021, via bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-16/u-s-kids-go-hungry-as-safety-net-ebbs-and-inflation-soars Food Bank for New York City (n.d.). Research and reports. Retrieved on December 19, 2021, via foodbanknyc.org/research-reports/ Leonhardt, M. (2020, June 4). 1 in 4 Americans are skipping meals or relying on food donations during the coronavirus pandemic. CNBC News. Retrieved on December 19, 2021, via cnbc.com/2020/06/04/1-in-4-americans-skipping-meals-or-relying-on-food-donations-amid-pandemic.html
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