News
Food prices, demand stress food bank
The Associated Press
A food bank that serves 50 agencies in the Tucson area is having to dig into its reserves to make ends meet as it deals with increasing demand and rising food prices.
Managers at the Community Food Bank are even considering cutting back on the number of food boxes they give out, though that’s not a step they want to take.
“We’ve never turned anyone away,” said food bank Chief Financial Officer Dan Walters. Reducing the number of food boxes to each family “could happen, but we’re trying hard not to do that. If we did reduce it, maybe we could increase what’s in the box. But we’re trying really hard not to decrease what people get.”
The Community Food Bank prepares 16,000 emergency food boxes a month, compared with 11,500 a month last year. The food boxes go out to 50 agencies that distribute them to individuals and families in need.
Roughly three-quarters of the food bank’s clients get one box a month, while the others get two boxes based on financial need or family size. Some families qualify for more.
With demand increasing, some distribution sites stopped accepting new clients because they can’t keep up. One site already has limited customers to one box a month.
The food has bank opened its warehouse to customers turned down at local distribution sites, a step that increases its costs.
“We first saw the increase a year ago when the economy started tanking, and it’s continued to tank,” Walters said. “Is it the price of gas? Is it the price of food? Is it both? And people are losing their jobs.”
Increased demand isn’t the only reason for the financial crunch facing the food bank.
Over the last several years, the federal government has bought less surplus food, meaning fewer government commodities end up on food bank shelves, and donations from food manufacturers have dropped as technological changes make the industry more efficient.
Food banks should start to see more commodities in October when a new federal farm bill takes effect, said Ross Fraser, a spokesman for America’s Second Harvest, a national organization that secures surplus food donations and distributes them to food banks.
GV response
The Green Valley Community Food Bank, a branch of the Tucson Community Food Bank, says it has seen a 50 percent increase in demand compared to this time last year.
“At this time of year, the children are out of school, and many local families are in need of food assistance due to part-time and seasonal working conditions,” Green Valley Branch Manager Mary Jane Goodrick said. “Your help is urgently needed. We are asking the community to come together to help the individuals, seniors, and families who are struggling to make ends meet.” Goodrick is asking local organizations, such as club, church, social groups, to organize food drives.
Details
Green Valley Community Food Bank at a glance:
Address: 250 E. Continental, Green Valley 85614;
Hours of operation: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Friday;
Branch manager: Mary Jane Goodrick;
Phone: 625-5252;
Donations: The food bank accepts cash and food items at its GV location and will send a truck to pick up many food contributions.
A food bank that serves 50 agencies in the Tucson area is having to dig into its reserves to make ends meet as it deals with increasing demand and rising food prices.
Managers at the Community Food Bank are even considering cutting back on the number of food boxes they give out, though that’s not a step they want to take.
“We’ve never turned anyone away,” said food bank Chief Financial Officer Dan Walters. Reducing the number of food boxes to each family “could happen, but we’re trying hard not to do that. If we did reduce it, maybe we could increase what’s in the box. But we’re trying really hard not to decrease what people get.”
The Community Food Bank prepares 16,000 emergency food boxes a month, compared with 11,500 a month last year. The food boxes go out to 50 agencies that distribute them to individuals and families in need.
Roughly three-quarters of the food bank’s clients get one box a month, while the others get two boxes based on financial need or family size. Some families qualify for more.
With demand increasing, some distribution sites stopped accepting new clients because they can’t keep up. One site already has limited customers to one box a month.
The food has bank opened its warehouse to customers turned down at local distribution sites, a step that increases its costs.
“We first saw the increase a year ago when the economy started tanking, and it’s continued to tank,” Walters said. “Is it the price of gas? Is it the price of food? Is it both? And people are losing their jobs.”
Increased demand isn’t the only reason for the financial crunch facing the food bank.
Over the last several years, the federal government has bought less surplus food, meaning fewer government commodities end up on food bank shelves, and donations from food manufacturers have dropped as technological changes make the industry more efficient.
Food banks should start to see more commodities in October when a new federal farm bill takes effect, said Ross Fraser, a spokesman for America’s Second Harvest, a national organization that secures surplus food donations and distributes them to food banks.
GV response
The Green Valley Community Food Bank, a branch of the Tucson Community Food Bank, says it has seen a 50 percent increase in demand compared to this time last year.
“At this time of year, the children are out of school, and many local families are in need of food assistance due to part-time and seasonal working conditions,” Green Valley Branch Manager Mary Jane Goodrick said. “Your help is urgently needed. We are asking the community to come together to help the individuals, seniors, and families who are struggling to make ends meet.” Goodrick is asking local organizations, such as club, church, social groups, to organize food drives.
Details
Green Valley Community Food Bank at a glance:
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