Trending
Don't let a drop in gasoline prices fool you into thinking the worst is over for our struggling economy. One of the indicators for continued hard times ahead is the worsening challenge for food banks.
Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, told the Ohio Capital Journal global supply chain problems, labor shortages and other global trends are enormous stressors.
Food supplies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are "down about a sixth and it's declining," she said. And at the same time the demand is increasing sharply. High prices at the grocery store, increasing housing prices and other expenses just keep hammering residents.
Hamler-Fugitt said that means food banks are seeing food leave shelves faster than it is coming in.
"I think things are going to get a whole lot darker and more bleak before they get a lot better," Hamler-Fugitt said. "We're … worried about food."
As community and state officials consider options for helping to shore up food banks, there is still something the rest of us can do. We're all facing the same financial challenges -- but for some, the strain is smaller than for others. Those of us who have wiggle room should do what we can to donate food, personal hygiene items … whatever we can.
Those in our communities who are struggling need that kind of support in a way many of us are fortunate not to be able to fathom. If you can do something to help, do it.