A food bank serving the Denver metropolitan area has said it may have to scale back its services due to higher prices and increased demand.
The USDA expects the cost of food to rise further in 2023, taxing families and the food banks that serve them.
The aisle of Integrated Family Community Services looks more like a grocery store than a food bank.
IFCS serves diverse communities by providing fresh produce to help clients prepare healthy meals that meet the needs of their families.
IFCS receives significant discounts by buying meat and produce in bulk from local partners.
They offer boxed groceries for free, but feel the effects of inflation.
“You used to be able to buy eggs for $15 a box. Now they are $94. We will have to make tough choices. Or should we cut back?” said Allison Taggart, program director at IFCS.
IFCS is reaching 100 households each day as the number of people in need has surged in recent months.
According to Taggart, 25% of clients are new to food pantries and have never received assistance before.
“Hunger is affecting everyone in our community. We are seeing people who used to be IFCS donors coming to our door in need of food,” Taggart said. rice field.
Families can get grocery boxes filled with non-perishable groceries, fruits, vegetables and meats every week.
Taggart said the frequency is likely to drop to once a month as costs are rising.
“We’re counting the numbers and suffering one by one. The only thing we can find is to reduce it to once a month so we have enough food for everyone who comes.” It means you can,” explained Taggart.
She added, “It pains me to go face to face with someone and tell them I can’t provide them with the food they need.”
Pandemic funding brought in $30,000 worth of food each month. She said the budget could be cut in half.
Taggart fears he’ll see regular customers less often, but for now it’s a compromise to help most people.
“Anything else is too risky,” Taggart said. “Closing in the middle of the month if food runs out is another reality we don’t get to see.”
According to IFCS, canned foods such as corn and green beans are now available to those who need them.
What the organization needs from the community is financial donations so it can buy fresh meat and continue producing it for its families.
To donate: https://bit.ly/3jD3XNu
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