Central Florida food bank faces rising costs and increased demand ahead of Thanksgiving
By Luana Munoz
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CENTRAL FLORIDA (WESH) — With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, Second Harvest Food Bank in Central Florida is facing rising food costs and increased demand as it works to distribute holiday meals to local pantries.
“Hunger has always been a big issue in Central Florida, as it is across the country; in recent years we have seen it go up,” said Greg Higgerson, chief development officer at Second Harvest Food Bank.
At Second Harvest, trucks are moving quickly to deliver pallets of food to local pantries, but the cost of operations continues to rise. The latest Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed inflation increased by 0.4% in October, higher than the 0.3% economists had predicted. Food prices also rose by 0.3%.
Changes in federal food assistance criteria have further complicated the situation, leading more families to turn to pantries for help.
“We really need the community to step up and try and help as many of their neighbors as possible. We can be a great conduit for that and put more food out the door,” Higgerson said.
Much of the food at Second Harvest is donated by the food industry, and those donations, combined with purchased items, allow the organization to distribute 300,000 meals a day to partner pantries. However, the need still outweighs the supply.
In Central Florida, Second Harvest reports that one in seven people are experiencing hunger, including one in five children. Compared to this time last year, the food bank’s costs have risen by 18%.
“This is the time of year when people are thinking about giving. They are thinking about their neighbors. They are thinking about food, certainly. It is a great time if you are able to help out to give a hand to your neighbor,” Higgerson said.
Despite rising costs, Thanksgiving meals may be slightly cheaper this year. According to an analysis by the Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people, including dessert, will cost $78.93, which is 0.4% less than last year.
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