The Unprecedented Weight We Carry, We Carry Together

Les Sinclair, Communications and Program Manager for the Blue Ridge Food Bank shared information from a recent virtual forum, entitled “In our Neighbors’ Words: Understanding the Rising Need for Food Assistance While Inspiring Action” that was held at the end of April.

Food banks are built for hard times

The Food Bank is serving the highest numbers of neighbors ever in their 44-year history.  He says they’ll likely close this fiscal year (ending June 30) with more food distributed to more people than in any prior year. Currently, they are reaching an unprecedented 172,000 people on average each month.

And as the need for food assistance rises, they can no longer count on the government to provide millions of pounds of much needed food.   His message is also one of resolve. Food banks are built for hard times, and he says, they will weather this storm. When resilience is needed, he says their guests, partners, donors, and volunteers provide them with the motivation they need to face whatever challenge is next.

What is driving the demand?

Sinclair says they find themselves in the midst of what’s been called the perfect storm.  On the one hand, they are seeing a huge spike in demand for their services. During similar episodes in the past, they knew that the line of people at food pantries got longer when unemployment rates were high. Conversely, lines would get shorter when unemployment rates would drop.

That is no longer the case; rates of food insecurity have become decoupled from rates of unemployment.

For many families, including working households, the cost of living is simply far too high. The average cost of daycare for an infant in Virginia is $14,000, annually. The cost of groceries is expected to increase another 3.6 percent this calendar year, and housing prices are soaring. If you factor in healthcare costs, utility bills, and insurance, budgeting can become difficult for anybody. And it is especially difficult for seniors on a fixed income and single parents.

Food sourcing challenges

Compounding the urgency, they realize we cannot count on the government as a reliable partner for food assistance right now.  Recent policy decisions have restricted their access to nearly 400,000 pounds of USDA food allocated for our warehouses.

And they are expecting a decline of 1.5 million pounds of food from federal resources next fiscal year (compared to this year). To replace that much food could cost them upwards of $1.3 million, something they can, in the short term, absorb.

But they also know that many smaller food pantries that rely on government assistance don’t have that luxury. So, they will offer some of their purchased food to them for free. But that means additional strains on their budget.

Recent cuts to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) resulted in a 10% reduction of our annual inventory. The Local Food Assistance Program (LFPA) was also cut, impacting local farmers.  Next year, they are projecting a decline of 1.5 million pounds of food due to TEFAP funding cuts.

But wait! There’s good news to share

They’ve learned during these turbulent times that their current 5-year strategic plan is the right plan to transform the lives of their neighbors and improve their communities.

For example, they recently welcomed new food pantry partners to the network in the city of Harrisonburg, giving them the opportunity to serve more guests. That’s also the case in Shenandoah County, where they launched a new Good Food School Market, directly connecting students with food resources on campus.

And they’ve also made great strides in health care settings, because they know that food is medicine. Since 2020, they have launched 27 food pharmacy sites, where they offer medically tailored groceries distributed at the point of health care. And that number will certainly grow in the coming years.

What can you do?

This upcoming fall is going to be an important time for everyone who cares about food banking.

Lawmakers in Washington will vote on the reauthorization of the farm bill. That is the piece of legislation that funds many federal food assistance programs for five years, such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). You can help advocate for a strong and robust farm bill that protects these vital programs, helping our neighbors, farmers, and our local economy.

If you are ready to join in that cause, you can learn more, and urge Congress to vote for a strong farm bill: www.brafb.org/advocate

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization serving Western and Central Virginia. Founded in 1981, the Food Bank serves 25 counties and 8 cities through distribution centers in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Winchester, and its headquarters in Verona. Each month, the Food Bank supports an average of 148,200 (July 2023 – June 2024) guest visits, reaching record numbers of Virginians through a network of nearly 400 community partners—food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and program sites. As a partner food bank of Feeding America®, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank pledges to continue innovating and adapting to secure, store, and distribute more food to more individuals, families, children, and seniors experiencing hunger. For more information, visit www.brafb.org.

Thanks to Les Sinclair and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank for the information in this story.