Food banks brace for increased demand

October 23, 2025 by
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Demand for food bank services has been increasing in the past several months while contributions have decreased, putting a strain on organizations across the United States. Food insecurity affects nearly 1 in 7 US households and 1 in 5 US children. With grocery prices high and continuing to rise, prospects for a decline in those numbers is not likely. Making things worse, food banks may soon have to deal with another pressing problem: a lapse in SNAP funding.

If the current government shutdown is not resolved by November 1, SNAP benefits (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funded by the federal government and distributed by the states) will not be paid to recipients. This means that for many households, there will be much less (or no) money to buy food, and the people affected will need to find other sources such as food banks. While food banks acknowledge that they cannot meet the entire need, they are gearing up for this potential outcome so they can help as many people as possible.

If you are able to contribute to a local food bank, food shelf, or meal program, please do so. The need is great even if the shutdown ends and SNAP benefits are not affected. Check with local organizations to find out what items they need most – although money is nearly always the best thing to contribute. Many food banks have deals with wholesalers that allow them to purchase food at a discount, so your money can go farther than if you just buy food yourself. If you cannot afford to give money, your time is also valuable. Food banks rely on volunteers to help organize, package, and distribute food.

Category: Antipasto

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4 Comments

  • janecooksamiracle  on  October 24, 2025

    In the meantime Trump is sending $20 BILLION to Argentina 😢

  • Indio32  on  October 24, 2025

    …..YET Supermarkets are making record profits. The UK’s largest supermarket Tesco is paying its boss ~£200,000/$270,000 a week. I’m wondering if this situation isn’t the end game with supermarkets just focusing on richer more profitable customers and leaving poorer ones to food banks? All of the unsold food then can be donated for tax breaks and avoiding refuse charges.

  • averythingcooks  on  October 24, 2025

    In Canada , there was a 2025 national campaign titled “Put Food Banks Out of Business” tied to both the federal and various provincial elections. It is sad to remember that the 1st food bank in Canada was established in Edmonton in 1981 as a SHORT TERM solution to an economic down turn.

  • gamulholland  on  October 26, 2025

    In a lot of places (and I’m in SoCal, so this is one of them), people basically have to choose between rent and food, the cost of living is so high. We donate regularly to the food bank at our parish (you don’t have to be Catholic to go to it, but many probably are because it’s right in the middle of the barrio), but I’m going to make a point of donating more. What it comes down to, though, is that minimum wage should be a living wage.

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