Higher Food Prices Cause Holiday Problems

For most people, one of the highlights of the holiday season is having lots of great food to share with family and friends. This year, sadly, that’s becoming a challenge for more and more people. 

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Here are Five Fast Facts about the hunger crisis this holiday season:

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1. 😱 Too Many - About 20% of adults had food insecurity last summer. This is not the kind of diet plan we want to see!
2. 😣 Killer Inflation = The Culprit - Estimates say food prices will be up around 10% overall this year. That’s painful, not only for families but also for the food banks that help them!
3. 📈 Going Up - In some cities, the level of need is as much as 70% higher than pre-pandemic levels, with about a third of food bank emergency calls coming from first-time callers. 
4. 🦃 Painful Prices - In other places, prices on staple holiday foods are soaring: chicken has more than doubled, turkey is up 21%, stuffing is up 14%, and potatoes are up almost 50%! Your silverware remains the same cost, though, so that’s something.
5. 🕐 You Do What You Have To - People are waiting in lines for hours to get food, which speaks to the intensity of the need. Can’t exactly recreate the excitement of Black Friday sales here, though.

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🔥Bottom line: There seems to be a psychological effect here, too. After two years of shutdowns and being forced to stay isolated, lots of people just want to return to normal and spend time with loved ones. That usually means a good meal to go with the good company, so the need is especially strong this year.

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We know Paychecks everywhere are suffering, but now is the time to think about stretching your dollars just a little bit further to help your fellow man (and woman, and child). We’re a generous nation full of good people willing to help others, so let’s all take a moment to think how we can do that, then follow through. Make it a better holiday season for someone who needs it even more than you do!

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What’s your best holiday gathering memory?

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