High grocery prices bringing more people to food pantry’s
Maryland families are struggling to keep food on the table and the Maryland Food Bank says grocery prices are to blame.“As inflation has really reared its head, we’re seeing the heightened demand that we think is for months to come,” said Carmen Del Guercio, CEO and President of the Maryland Food Bank.
Recent U.S. Census Bureau data (Household Pulse Survey) shows concerning statistics when it comes to hunger in Maryland. “That 45% percent of Marylanders – their children have to go without food potentially because they can’t find ways to make ends meet,” said Guercio.
Food pantry Partner Adopt-A-Block says they are feeling the impact of increased need in our own backyard. “We’re seeing an incredible increase of people who are coming not only to our church in Salisbury but we also have the Adopt-A-Block and partnership with Crisfield Cares in Crisfield. Just last week we had over 100 people at our Crisfield location which is up from 60 or 70 that we usually get down in Crisfield, and here in Salisbury, we had to move it from people coming to our church office because it’s too overwhelming,” said Reverend Mark Thompson with Adopt-A-Block.
Reverend Mark Thompson says smaller food pantries are closing up because of the increase in food costs so more people are looking to them for assistance.
“There are 90 migrant workers at one of the local hotels that they’re not receiving enough food so they’re asking us for food. Yesterday, I had to take over cases of ramen noodles and pop-up cans that they can microwave,” said Reverand Thompson.
Though there is a greater need, The Maryland Food Bank has a plan to help keep food on the table. “The ways in which we’re trying to respond to this need is to buy more food to respond to this demand. We’re buying more food at heightened costs which put more pressure on our organization. That’s our number 1 response is to continue to buy as much food as we possibly can afford to buy to push as much food out to the communities as we can,” Guercio explained.
47 ABC also reached out to the Maryland Retailers Association, who tells us “According to the Consumer Prince Index, from May 2020- June 2023 the percent change in food prices is 20.2%, which has drastically impacted consumers.
The Maryland Food Bank considers what food options are most nutritious and culturally preferred to limit food waste. They also are accepting volunteers to help work the food pantry.
Adopt-A-Block feeds over 65,000 families a month and to keep doing so they could use your support.
