FOOD Food Banks All Over The US Are "Overwhelmed" As Cost Of Living Pushes More Into Poverty

[Blacknarwhal]

And there, but for the grace of God, go we all.

Fair use cited so on and so forth.

Food Banks All Over The US Are "Overwhelmed" As Cost Of Living Pushes More Into Poverty | ZeroHedge

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Food Banks All Over The US Are "Overwhelmed" As Cost Of Living Pushes More Into Poverty​

Authored by Michael Snyder via The Economic Collapse blog,

The food lines are back, and they are starting to get really long.


But this wasn’t supposed to happen. We are being told that unemployment is very low, even though that is not actually true. And we are also being told that the inflation rate is still only in the single digits, and of course that is not exactly true either. All over the country, middle class Americans are watching their lifestyles be absolutely eviscerated by the cost of living crisis, and an increasing number of them are turning to food banks. So we are seeing very long lines at food banks in major cities from coast to coast, and we are also seeing very long lines in rural locations such as northwest Montana…

Across the Flathead, food pantries are facing emptier shelves and scarcer donations as demand for their services grows.
“Our numbers have definitely been increasing,” Ann Bohmer, co-manager of the Columbia Falls Food Bank, said. “[There’s been an] influx of people and a shortage of supplies.”

The Columbia Falls Food Bank is now “overwhelmed” by the level of demand that it is experiencing, and unfortunately the same thing can be said for countless other food banks across the nation…

The problem of overwhelmed and understocked food banks is not unique to northwest Montana. Food and gas prices are skyrocketing across the country, forcing Americans to pinch pennies and limit purchases. As of last month, grocery store prices were up 10.8% from the same time last year. While supermarket tabs are getting higher, lines at food pantries are getting longer, as Americans struggle to put meals on the table.

You should never, ever look down on those that need to use local food banks.

Because the truth is that with a few bad breaks you could soon need to use one yourself.

Prior to this new economic crisis, a woman in the Phoenix area named Tomasina John had never visited a food bank before, but now her local food bank is an indispensable lifeline for her family…

Tomasina John was among hundreds of families lined up in several lanes of cars that went around the block one recent day outside St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix. John said her family had never visited a food bank before because her husband had easily supported her and their four children with his construction work.
“But it’s really impossible to get by now without some help,” said John, who traveled with a neighbor to share gas costs as they idled under a scorching desert sun. “The prices are way too high.”

Sadly, economic conditions have forced dozens of food banks all over the country to either shut down or reduce services at a time when they are needed more than ever.

Here are just a few examples…

Elsewhere in the United States, rising prices have forced dozens of charitable nonprofits to shutter, temporarily close, or reduce services. This spring, Nashville’s Little Pantry closed down after five years of operation. New Jersey’s Angels Community Outreach announced a temporary closure due to supply shortages. And Utah’s Tooele Food Pantry canceled an important food drive because of staffing and logistical issues. Among the food banks that remain open, some are putting limitations on how often people can visit and how much food they can get.

If our food banks are under this much financial stress already, what will things be like a year from now?

That is something to think about.

Across the Atlantic, they are dealing with similar problems in the UK…

Food banks are running out of supplies amid an “overwhelming” surge of new people falling into hardship during the cost of living crisis, with some charities forced to turn away families in need.

As I discussed yesterday, an unprecedented energy crisis has much of Europe on the verge of a full-blown economic collapse.

Energy bills have soared to unprecedented heights, and the cost of living has become extremely oppressive. As a result, many in the UK are now skipping meals on a regular basis…

Four out of 10 Universal Credit claimants have admitted to missing meals over the summer in order to keep up with rising costs, research shows.
Some 41% of people on benefits admitted to skipping meals over the past three months, with a further 38% claiming to have had just one meal or gone a whole day without eating because they couldn’t afford to buy enough food.
The research was conducted by The Trussell Trust, Britain’s biggest food bank charity, which surveyed 1,846 UK adults claiming benefits between August 10 and 31 via YouGov.

Unfortunately, this is just the beginning.

We are being repeatedly warned that the food shortages in Europe will soon get far worse.

But this nightmare won’t just be isolated to Europe. There will be widespread food shortages all over the globe in 2023, and the head of the UN says that it is likely that there will be “multiple famines” next year.

So why aren’t more people getting prepared?

Top government officials all over the planet are openly telling us that there will be food shortages in 2023, but the vast majority of the people out there seem to assume that everything is going to work out just fine somehow.

Just because we have always had plenty of food in the past does not mean that we will have enough food in the future.

According to the World Food Program, 828 million people all over the world go to bed hungry each night, vast numbers of people in Europe are already being forced to skip meals because of rising food costs, and children are literally starving to death in Africa right now.

But here in the United States we will be immune from the global food crisis because we are so special, right?

If you want to stick your head in the sand and pretend that everything is just fine, go ahead and do so.

Meanwhile, the food lines are getting longer and longer, and crops are failing all over the planet.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Because most food banks did not monitor who used them and did not talk to each other and restrict the scamming going on, they always tended to run short for the people that could have used the help the most with the best results.

 

[bw]

So why aren’t more people getting prepared?

Can't speak for most, but in my family having a full pantry seems to constitute hoarding and is looked on with distinct disfavor. Meh.

 

[Meemur]

Kathy, I'm sure there's a lot of scamming going on, but I really like the "no questions asked" policy that's still in place locally. The food being handed out is mostly starchy canned stuff with edible but expired fresh veggies, expired bread, some pasta, some eggs (depending). There's nothing in that box that would be considered a luxury. I volunteer at the food pantry periodically. I'd rather see those handouts than people start breaking into homes to steal food.

And, yes, I could make some tasty meals from that food, but they would be very high in carbs and sodium. This is probably why I'm also seeing more overweight people around lately. This stuff will keep one from starving, but it will also pack on the pounds.

 

[Meemur]

Can't speak for most, but in my family having a full pantry seems to constitute hoarding and is looked on with distinct disfavor. Meh.

This is why there are some relatives I no longer speak to and why I'm careful about who is added to my circle.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

This is why there are some relatives I no longer speak to and why I'm careful about who is added to my circle.

I no longer have anything to do with most of my relatives. My immediate family is my circle.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Kathy, I'm sure there's a lot of scamming going on, but I really like the "no questions asked" policy that's still in place locally. The food being handed out is mostly starchy canned stuff with edible but expired fresh veggies, expired bread, some pasta, some eggs (depending). There's nothing in that box that would be considered a luxury. I volunteer at the food pantry periodically. I'd rather see those handouts than people start breaking into homes to steal food.

And, yes, I could make some tasty meals from that food, but they would be very high in carbs and sodium. This is probably why I'm also seeing more overweight people around lately. This stuff will keep one from starving, but it will also pack on the pounds.

The problem as I see it is they are going to be responsible for food getting into the hands that need it, they need to accept the full responsibility.

As a landlord I choose to accept certain responsibilities and part of that is making sure I am renting to some who doesn’t pose a threat to their neighbors. It isn’t always easy to tell someone financially qualified to explain other issues in the background check has disqualified them. I would rather deal with some up front work than back end failures.

The same principle should apply.

 

[Scrapman]

People need to learn to cook

 

[Meemur]

The problem as I see it is they are going to be responsible for food getting into the hands that need it, they need to accept the full responsibility.

As a landlord I choose to accept certain responsibilities and part of that is making sure I am renting to some who doesn’t pose a threat to their neighbors. It isn’t always easy to tell someone financially qualified to explain other issues in the background check has disqualified them. I would rather deal with some up front work than back end failures.

The same principle should apply.

I look at it this way: we know most of the clients (this is a small town). They are in dire straits. We are volunteers in a donated space. If we had to verify incomes or do other paperwork, our little pantry would disappear. We're not set up for that. On a day where we're open for 4 hours, we might get 2 or 3 unknown families or 4 - 5 unknown seniors.

I don't sweat it.

 

[John Deere Girl]

If a family or even a single person is in need, one visit to one food bank won't help very much. Also with inflation on everything, some families might not qualify for food bank assistance but still really need it.

We have a close friend who started helping at a food bank 3 years ago. They had 50-75 people on average come through. Now they see 175-250 people. Some volunteers take stuff home to distribute to those who can't drive the distance to the food bank. We get to volunteer in that aspect. Not one person we help is taking advantage, and they really need the help.

 

[Meemur]

If a family or even a single person is in need, one visit to one food bank won't help very much.

Yes it can . . . some people have been at the end of their ropes. Sometimes help from family or relatives can take time to arrive.

I've been there. That's why I'm a prepper now. In a horrible economy (like the 80s in Michigan), even frugal people with savings could suddenly find themselves in need, sometimes though no fault of their own.

And I'm not talking about the generational welfare queens with their free cell phones and $100 manicures. I'm talking about us working folks who just got smacked or stayed too long with an employer circling the drain when we probably should've switched jobs a lot sooner.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Here in Tampa we had a lot of help for people that crashed and burned due to misuse. People would charity hop on top of having WIC, food stamps, and other assistance.

Food banks don’t report you via a 1099 or 1098, etc. They would stock up from all the local charities and then use their “checks” or “card” to get high end stuff from the grocery.

Several of the local charities are now talking and they all now have to get client info and report it. Except for the food pantries. Soon enough you are going to have to sign up and be on the gov’ list.

The 501c3 rules are starting to tighten up on what can be considered income for clients.

 

[john70]

IF YOU FEED THEM, THEY WILL COME
THE MORE YOU FEED THEM, MORE WILL COME

 

[bw]

When we were doing hurricane relief feeding, we stopped when our clients asked us what the meal was going to be. If they can ask what we're serving, they don't need us.

 

[Countrymouse]

Not exactly "food bank" stuff, but something that INFURIATES me--

It used to be at Kroger and Wal-Mart they had a section in the back for bakery items about to go out of date, and in the meat aisle for meat products also about to expire.

You used to be able to get some good deals there.

Now, it appears Kroger and Wal-Mart are trying to make a profit EVEN OFF FOOD THAT BY LAW HAS TO BE REMOVED FROM SALE by a certain date.

Food that expires today--or tomorrow--is BARELY cheaper than it is on the shelves.

WHO DO THEY THINK THEY'RE KIDDING?

We all know they are going to THROW. AWAY. the food that expires---at least, that's what they told me.

They don't donate it to a food bank--they THROW IT AWAY.

And they want to bleed that LAST PENNY out of it before they do.

May the admins who made that decision be the FIRST to go hungry when this thing fully hits the fan.

 

[20Gauge]

IF YOU FEED THEM, THEY WILL COME
THE MORE YOU FEED THEM, MORE WILL COME

They are finding that out about the homeless in our town. Nice weather, near the beach, a place to stay each night with showers and food served. All that is required is you stay away during the hours of 8 am to 7 pm. So basically they are living off charity for free and have all day long to have fun.

 

[john70]

FOOD BANKS

Not exactly "food bank" stuff, but something that INFURIATES me--

It used to be at Kroger and Wal-Mart they had a section in the back for bakery items about to go out of date, and in the meat aisle for meat products also about to expire.

You used to be able to get some good deals there.

Now, it appears Kroger and Wal-Mart are trying to make a profit EVEN OFF FOOD THAT BY LAW HAS TO BE REMOVED FROM SALE by a certain date.

Food that expires today--or tomorrow--is BARELY cheaper than it is on the shelves.

WHO DO THEY THINK THEY'RE KIDDING?

We all know they are going to THROW. AWAY. the food that expires---at least, that's what they told me.

They don't donate it to a food bank--they THROW IT AWAY.

And they want to bleed that LAST PENNY out of it before they do.

May the admins who made that decision be the FIRST to go hungry when this thing fully hits the fan.

"They don't donate it to a food bank--they THROW IT AWAY."

NO, THEY SELL IT TO THE FOOD BANK

THE GOVERNMENT,,,,THE TAX PAYERS ,,,,,YOU AND ME, LETS THEM TAKE THE COST OFF OF THEIR TAXES

THE FOOD BANKS IN GAINESVILLE, FL WILL NOT EXCEPT OUT OF DATE FOOD
IF THE FOOD IS NOT OUT OF DATE TODAY
IT IS FIRST CLASS
AND CHARGED OFF TAXES AT FULL PRICE

THE FOOD BANKS HAVE BECOME A WAY TO SELL OLD FOOD AT FULL PRICE

BUT, IF THEY THROW THE FOOD AWAY, THE MUST PAY TO HAVE IT HAULED AWAY

AND THE COST IS ADDED TO THE GOOD FOOD

THE YOU AND I BUY

SO, YOU AND I PAY FOR THE FOOD, EITHER WAY

 

[lanningro]

Years and years ago in Kansas City while in line at a grocery store there was a lady with multiple carts full of sliced bread. She paid for it with food stamps. As I was leaving I noticed she was loading the bread into a catering van with the logo of a famous local Bar-B-Que joint on the side. One thing I have learned in 63 years, people are no damned good.

 

[Kathy in FL]

FOOD BANKS

"They don't donate it to a food bank--they THROW IT AWAY."

NO, THEY SELL IT TO THE FOOD BANK

THE GOVERNMENT,,,,THE TAX PAYERS ,,,,,YOU AND ME, LETS THEM TAKE THE COST OFF OF THEIR TAXES

THE FOOD BANKS IN GAINESVILLE, FL WILL NOT EXCEPT OUT OF DATE FOOD
IF THE FOOD IS NOT OUT OF DATE TODAY
IT IS FIRST CLASS
AND CHARGED OFF TAXES AT FULL PRICE

THE FOOD BANKS HAVE BECOME A WAY TO SELL OLD FOOD AT FULL PRICE

BUT, IF THEY THROW THE FOOD AWAY, THE MUST PAY TO HAVE IT HAULED AWAY

AND THE COST IS ADDED TO THE GOOD FOOD

THE YOU AND I BUY

SO, YOU AND I PAY FOR THE FOOD, EITHER WAY

The reason why most food stores have locking dumpsters is to keep people out of them. There was a point that the FDA forbid out of date food from being donated to food pantries. That rule may still be in place. Grocery stores were being threatened with loss of license to do business over this issue at one point.

Now I know Publix still donates food to local charities but I don’t know what percentage it is, but it isn’t out of date food. Winn Dixie used to donate all of their out of date meat to the ”soup kitchens” but that stopped right quick. They still occasionally discount meat, etc but not often. They simply put less out passed on previous sales.

 

[raven]

Do you see - have you observed - ANY constructive action
to correct this condition?
or
Is the message that "this transition is going to be tough", but like everything else,
what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

 

[Samuel Adams]

One thing I have learned in 63 years, people are no damned good.

And they have become the “majority”….and they vote.


Go back to landed gents, only, and then maybe we could again accurately call it a republic.

Mob rule is democracy is today.


Change my mind.

 

[WalknTrot]

Any real or perceived problem with "users" will take care of itself when things get dire. As donations dry up and selection gets smaller, fewer "people who don't need it" will be stopping at food shelves. The day may be coming when all they will have to fill boxes is old bread, pasta, generic canned vegetables, dry beans and rice. Next: a soup kitchen for a bowl of soup and a chunk of bread.

The truly needy will still be thankful for it.

 

[John Deere Girl]

Not exactly "food bank" stuff, but something that INFURIATES me--

It used to be at Kroger and Wal-Mart they had a section in the back for bakery items about to go out of date, and in the meat aisle for meat products also about to expire.

You used to be able to get some good deals there.

Now, it appears Kroger and Wal-Mart are trying to make a profit EVEN OFF FOOD THAT BY LAW HAS TO BE REMOVED FROM SALE by a certain date.

Food that expires today--or tomorrow--is BARELY cheaper than it is on the shelves.

WHO DO THEY THINK THEY'RE KIDDING?

We all know they are going to THROW. AWAY. the food that expires---at least, that's what they told me.

They don't donate it to a food bank--they THROW IT AWAY.

And they want to bleed that LAST PENNY out of it before they do.

May the admins who made that decision be the FIRST to go hungry when this thing fully hits the fan.

Around here the meat is frozen and Walmart and Kroger gives the meat and bakery items to the food banks. Our food bank that we are associated with gets quite a bit of these items. And people are so happy and excited to get them.

 

[FireDance]

I asked the guy at our Walmart what they did with old meat and was promptly taken on a tour of a giant trash can in the back of the meat section. No donations applied.

 

[Meemur]

Not all store managers follow the company line. I'll just leave it at that.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Some of it depends on the laws in each municipal area. If charitable contributions or contributors are protected then food stores might donate.

 

[rob0126]

The local methodist food pantry has received donations by someone from the local IGA.

I saw a full pallet of iga peanut butter and mac n cheese.

More folks are going to the pantry.

 

[von Koehler]

And this country is not yet in a depression; it's only going to get worse.

America is still in the recession stage ("you lost your job, but I still have mine") but in a depression we both are out of work.

 

[Blacknarwhal]

Some of it depends on the laws in each municipal area. If charitable contributions or contributors are protected then food stores might donate.

The PR would be a disaster. Imagine what would happen if Publix or Fred Meyer or Piggly Wiggly starts running ads like "Walmart feeds the poor with its expired food. We sell at good prices so we don't have expired food to begin with. Shop with us. Not with people who feed their trash to the poor."

 

[packyderms_wife]

When we were doing hurricane relief feeding, we stopped when our clients asked us what the meal was going to be. If they can ask what we're serving, they don't need us.

I ask about the menu, good to know you wouldn't feed me, because I have some pretty severe allergies and if it's going to be a potato and citrus focused meal, potato leek soup as the main course for instance, I'll pass and let someone else have my portion!!!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I ask about the menu, good to know you wouldn't feed me, because I have some pretty severe allergies and if it's going to be a potato and citrus focused meal, potato leek soup as the main course for instance, I'll pass and let someone else have my portion!!!

Same here. Cary is severely allergic to any kind of seafood.

 

[packyderms_wife]

Same here. Cary is severely allergic to any kind of seafood.

Totally understand! I know someone who is severely allergic to onions, garlic, leeks, chives, etc., so if she were ever in need of a soup kitchen she'd be SOL with most food offerings.

 

[Josie]

A friend of mine worked at one of the local food pantries. About 9-10 years ago, she was chatting with me and getting more and more steamed as she talked. She said for the first time she was working the front desk. Always before, she was working the pantry and really didn't have a whole lot of contact with the clientele. Apparently, not once but a few times a family would come in, get their bag(s) of groceries, walk out to their nice car and go through the contents of the bag, remove whatever they didn't like for whatever reason and bring the rejected items back. Things like saltine crackers were returned because they wanted the club kind. Mac and cheese was returned because they don't do generic and the same for peanut butter. These things were okay to return because they were shelf stable. It was the perishables that were returned that were a problem. Health department rules required them to maintain certain temps. Once those left the building, there was no guarantee that was done, so they had to be pitched. What frosted her cookies was even though they were taking the free stuff, supposedly needing it, they felt that certain items were beneath them. I pointed out that while true, at least they were bringing to back and not just dumping it in the closest dumpster!

 

[Meemur]

I've worked at several food pantries and never had anyone bring stuff back after leaving. I have had several clients refuse the eggs or milk due to allergies.

I've not worked near the inner city, either. Most of the clients have been somewhat older and very, very grateful to get anything.

And, yes, it's a matter of time before our little pantry will have to close. We're tiny enough to be off the radar. We serve between 35 - 37 families and about 65 or so individuals, up from 42 (or so) when I first starting volunteering last year. I mostly went and picked up the food and unloaded it. I just recently started helping pass it out (and take it to homes, on occasion).

There's some politics here, too. "A church" (won't be specific) was supposed to be running this program, but the "Karens" said "no." So "we" are picking up the slack. That's all I'll say. Anyone who has been through this situation will understand.

At the end of the day, it's about helping our immediate neighbors and anyone nearby who needs food in a somewhat dignified way.

 

[Kathy in FL]

The large church I attended used to operate a food pantry. It had to be closed when too many bad things started happening:

1. Church found out that several of the families they helped with food, utility money, school supplies, holiday food baskets and gifts were double dipping all over town.
2. Food was being re-sold or traded.
3. Threats against the church when they were told the well was dry.
4. Insurance carrier excluded coverage.
5. The gov started getting nosey for various reasons.

Now what the church does is collect canned goods, etc for other charities and food pantries that are better organized and know how to weed out the grifters.

 

[Meemur]

Kathy, that's one advantage of being in a donated space: we use it for 2 - 4 hours, depending and then pick up, sweep up, and depart. When we run out of food, there's no one to threaten after we're gone. There's also nothing left sitting around that can be stolen (or tempt a thief).

The latter was one of the main objections that the "Karens" had. They feared stored food would attract criminals and flies.

 

[Josie]

I've worked at several food pantries and never had anyone bring stuff back after leaving. I have had several clients refuse the eggs or milk due to allergies.

Keep in mind that this is a larger food pantry that serves the entire county but a more rural area. (We only have two.) It was also years ago when things were not as tough as they are now. If you're actually hungry, I would think that anything would be better than nothing. I would love to know if those same people have changed their tunes any.

I totally understand not wanting certain items because a member of the family was allergic. But that was not the excuse given. I'm just grateful that they took the items back and didn't dump them somewhere because I have donated some of those items.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Keep in mind that this is a larger food pantry that serves the entire county but a more rural area. (We only have two.) It was also years ago when things were not as tough as they are now. If you're actually hungry, I would think that anything would be better than nothing. I would love to know if those same people have changed their tunes any.

I totally understand not wanting certain items because a member of the family was allergic. But that was not the excuse given. I'm just grateful that they took the items back and didn't dump them somewhere because I have donated some of those items.

I've done some work and volunteering for a few local agencies, including food pantries and assistance programs. There are long rolls that have lived this way for years. What is creating change is that now for tax purposes 501c3's have to collect legal data on people who receive assistance. This is in turn turned over to the IRS.

Even funds and services that are technically tax free still need to be reported. And just because "income" isn't taxable doesn't mean that it might not be included for purposes of a "sliding scale" award. All of that free money that was handed out during covid and the rental assistance? If a landlord has to report it ... which we must ... then the recipient must report it. All of the utility assistance people are receiving? The additional money that goes on the EBT cards? All of it gets reported.

 

[Just Plain Mom]

Allergic to pepper and onions (and their cousins), and fish, among other things I can tolerate in minute amounts once in a while. I'd have a terrible time, and you'll forgive me if I ask about the food you're serving, because I'd rather not eat than have an allergic reaction and possibly die.

That said, with price increases every time we go shopping--not to mention electric, water, you name it--it is getting harder and harder to make ends meet.

I am reminded of the time my kiddo had a huge pallet of pork loins on his truck; they were rejected at the receiver because the box was torn (seriously??) and the insurer said to take them anywhere he could, no specification. The meat inside the box was untouched and beautiful. So he called a couple of local churches and found a food pantry/soup kitchen. When the guy came to pick them up (unload into his own pickup truck, and take them back to the church since you can't fit a semi truck into the parking lot), he had tears in his eyes and said they could feed SO many people with all of that meat. Son still smiles about that one.