Craig Rice, CEO of the Manna Food Center in Maryland, notes a shift in the demographic seeking help. Where centers once served primarily hourly-wage workers, they are now seeing salaried employees who have been pushed to the brink by rising fuel and grocery prices. This sentiment is echoed nationally, with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina reporting demand spikes of up to 60% over the past year.
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US Food Banks Face Crisis as Costs Surge Under New Policy Pressure
Food banks across the United States are grappling with a dual crisis: a sharp rise in demand from families struggling with inflation and soaring logistical costs. Officials point to a combination of federal policy shifts and energy market volatility as the primary drivers behind this mounting humanitarian strain.
Operational budgets are simultaneously being hollowed out by the cost of diesel, essential for distributing food. In Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank currently faces monthly fuel bills near $15,000, a significant jump from previous cycles. Meanwhile, in Michigan, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes reported a 56% increase in new clients, a surge comparable to the chaos seen during federal government shutdowns. The situation is expected to worsen as states prepare to absorb a larger share of SNAP administrative costs under the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
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