INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Rising inflation is hurting the food-scarce Hoosiers more than the pandemic, according to the Gleaners.
“Federal programs had subsidies or subsidies for the pandemic, but they ended. When Indiana chose to separate disaster dates from federal dates, supplemental amounts snapped up and stopped supplementary amounts for neighbors.
This, combined with the end of school lunches, left many families unable to make a living and put food on the table, Elliott said.
“These two combined make June the best distribution month in our company’s history,” says Elliott. ‘Higher than any month in a pandemic’
Gleaners reported a 25% increase in on-site pantry distribution. Partner organizations are also up 25-30%, according to Midwest Food Bank.
“Some people are coming up and asking, ‘How does this work?’ Because there was never
Hoosiers is also working to raise rents, in addition to raising prices on other goods and services.
“Moving things around almost everywhere is costly, so it costs more for people to get to and from work and fill their cars with gas,” Ruhigo said. rice field. “It’s more expensive to go to the grocery store.”
Rising food costs are also making it difficult for these food aid organizations to purchase the products they need.
“It costs more at the food bank to ensure we have enough food here to send to partner organizations across the state,” Ruhigo said.
“We’re buying nine to ten times as much food as we did pre-pandemic,” Elliot said. “This is not just because more neighbors have been fed, but to make up for the decline in donations from retailers and producers and, frankly, to make up for the dramatic decline in USDA.”
Elliott said that there is always a need for donations, so he encourages anyone who can donate to continue donating.