The surge in food costs, hunger, and concern across most of America is a pressing issue that calls for attention. While politicians are preoccupied with their disputes, it’s crucial that we, as a community in the world’s wealthiest nation, help raise awareness about this crisis locally and nationally.
Our collective action, while small, can and has made a significant difference.
In this post, I’m asking for your help this weekend. We need to purchase some inexpensive items that are sorely needed to add to the pantry shelves.
Sarah says, “They cleaned us out.” I’ve also gathered relevant information on the increasing number of people turning to food pantries in America. The situation is getting more serious each year. Details are down below.
All of you good people who valiantly support this program have a right to the facts. America is the new land of rumors and assumptions, and as a former journalist, I prefer facts, not arguments. I’ve tried to offer some below.
The pandemic has not just exacerbated food deprivation but made it more severe. Feeding America’s report is a stark reminder, with a 75 percent increase in food pantry visitations nationwide in February compared to the previous year.
I should mention that a “significant” percentage of the people who come to the Cambridge Pantry do not qualify for SNAP or any other government programs for all kinds of reasons.
The crisis is far from over. If you’re not wealthy, it stings, or worse.
According to Sarah, the current urgent needs are juices and ravioli, which are out of stock and urgently needed.
One reader suggested that the federal SNAP program (not available in many places) can quickly meet the food demands of food-deprived families. I’m sorry, but this is not even close to accurate.
(Some of the Pantry volunteers have a lot of big hearts)
At the same time, food prices soared, and more than 20 states have canceled programs that provided increased SNAP benefit amounts, known as emergency allocations.
Our program is not drawing new people to the Cambridge Pantry; people struggling have few or other places to go. The number of people needing food support has been climbing for years. It was mushrooming long before we got involved, as it is all over America.
And no, SNAP food programs are far from meeting the demand. Many groceries don’t even accept SNAP. Benefits for a family of four are now $700 a month. Anyone who shops at supermarkets to feed four children will know how long that will last now.
We are late to the game but eager to do what little we can. And that is what we are doing. Thank you; your response has been a miracle to these people.
Food pantries like the Cambridge Pantry need support. We can only buy some of the food they need or even come close. But we can help ease the pain and discouragement by buying juices and Beef Ravioli, which were taken entirely from their shelves last Saturday.
If you can this weekend, please help the pantry with these items; any donation will help. We can take $5 a long way.
You can see the Cambridge Food Pantry Wish List here and purchase any items you wish. Thanks.
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Some information on food pantry use in America.
“For March, reports Feeding America, nearly two-thirds of responding food banks reported an increase in demand for food assistance, according to Feeding America’s latest food bank pulse survey, a marked jump from the previous study.
In the latest survey, fielded between April 17 and May 1 last year, around 95% of responding food banks reported seeing demand for food assistance increase or stay the same in March compared to February, with around 65% reporting an increase in the number of people seeking charitable food assistance.
This is the first food bank survey gauging demand since the nationwide end of a critical pandemic-era food benefit.
By the end of February, approximately 20 more states ceased the provision of increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit amounts, known as emergency allotments. This additional assistance was initiated in the early days of the pandemic to alleviate hunger. The timing of the wind-down, coinciding with the continued stress of elevated food prices on tens of millions of families, underscores the severity of the situation. Food banks had anticipated a surge in demand due to the sudden loss of billions in purchasing power for families, a trend reflected in the latest food bank survey.
Here is the latest information on what SNAP will pay monthly, when it is available:
Snap was formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the average SNAP benefit for a single person in 2024 is $202 monthly, with a maximum of $291. The average benefit for a family of four is $713, with a maximum of $973.
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The latest report finds that in 2022, approximately 49 million people – one out of every six people in the U.S. – turned to hunger relief programs for support, which includes the Feeding America nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner food pantries and meal distribution centers.
The number is now believed to be 58 million people. In a way, we can only offer a drop in the bucket, but the bucked makes an enormous difference to these people.
Thank you for helping.