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At food banks, need is up, donations are down

Jan 2, 2023
Donations of both money and food are down. That's straining food banks at a time when more people are relying on them again.
“'Food shelf near me' is in the top 10 searches in our area," said Allison O’Toole at Minnesota's Second Harvest Heartland food bank.
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Ending hunger a battle on many fronts, over many months, says CEO of Feeding America

Inflation, supply chain problems and wealth disparities remain barriers to solving hunger, says Claire Babineaux-Fontenot of Feeding America.
Residents of Bronx, New York, received food donations in September. "Making meaningful, sustainable progress by the end of this decade is doable. We have to choose to do it," says Claire Babineaux-Fontenot.
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Food banks see a surge in demand as food inflation hits low-income families

Sep 12, 2022
In July, the cost of food at grocery stores was up 13% annually. An Oregon nonprofit is serving nearly twice as many clients as before the pandemic.
People wait in line at a food bank in Oakland, California. High inflation has driven demand at food banks nationwide.
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Food banks feel pinch of inflation

Nov 30, 2021
The nonprofits faced higher demand through the pandemic. Now, with food costs rising, their resources are stretched even further.
Inflation and supply chain issues are hitting food banks hard and limiting the aid they're able to distribute.
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Rural food banks find ways to deliver during pandemic

Jan 22, 2021
For many low-income people in rural areas, simply getting to a grocery store or food bank can be a barrier to getting enough to eat.
Food price inflation is causing some food banks to consider their costs and tighten where needed.
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Charitable giving is way up this year — the same will likely be true of Giving Tuesday

Early numbers show that people are giving more than in previous years to places like food banks, housing groups and mutual aid networks.
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Food pantries offer food and community safely this Thanksgiving

Nov 26, 2020
Although most soup kitchens are serving to-go meals, they're hoping to provide safe gathering spaces, too.
Demand at soup kitchens has grown so much during the pandemic that serving into the night is the only way to get food to everyone safely.
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The most effective way to give this holiday season

Nov 25, 2020
As we head into a holiday season like no other, what is the best way to help those in need?
Workers from the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank distribute boxes of fresh produce to people facing food insecurity in August. Donating cash to food banks allows them to supply produce to people in need more easily.
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Food programs see a huge increase in need during the pandemic

Nov 25, 2020
Feeding America says food banks nationwide have seen about 60% more people showing up at food distribution centers.
People receive bags of food, including turkeys, at a Thanksgiving food distribution on Nov. 20 in New York City.
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Local food banks see increased need with federal assistance program set to end

Oct 23, 2020
More than 22 million people in the U.S. say they sometimes or often don't have enough to eat, according to the latest census data.
City of Opa-locka employees and volunteers place groceries provided by the food bank Feeding South Florida into the vehicles of patrons at a drive-thru distribution site on April 14, 2020 in Opa-locka, Florida.
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