Volunteers load fresh produce into the car of a family in need at a Mobile Market food distribution
Two little boys poked their heads out of a car window and smiled at me. I was standing in the Augusta campus food bank parking lot, and cars in line for food snaked along for as far as I could see. Yet they were smiling.
I approached them and smiled back. I pushed back tears as two volunteers loaded boxes and bags of fresh food into their trunk. As their faded white car slowly drove away, one small toddler hand waved out the window.
In that moment, I flashed back to my childhood and cherished holiday memories. I wondered if those boys would remember that they waited in a line when they were small to receive food for a holiday meal. I wondered how long that food in their trunk would last. And I wondered how many times they had experienced the pang of hunger in their young lives.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, food costs are up 10.9%. As a result, families are making difficult choices between paying for healthcare, utilities or putting food on the table.
I stood there simultaneously broken by the overwhelming scope of hunger in our community and also incredibly grateful for the pallets of fresh produce stacked around me and the tireless team members and volunteers offering smiles and filling trunks full of oranges, potatoes, carrots and other produce.
Many experts are reporting that the pandemic is behind us, but the economic effects are not only lingering, they are burgeoning. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, food costs are up 10.9%. As a result, families are making difficult choices between paying for healthcare, utilities or putting food on the table.
Cars line up to receive food at a Mobile Market food distribution
For about a year, food insecurity levels were nowhere near as high as during the peak of the pandemic across the 25 counties we serve in Georgia and South Carolina. This is no longer true. Golden Harvest Food Bank and our partner agencies are witnessing more families, children and seniors than ever before who are reaching out for help, many for the first time. The economic, physical and mental toll that unaffordable healthy food has taken is evident in the eyes of every child and senior we’ve served through the more than 11 million meals that have been distributed this year alone.
Family budgets are not just being stretched by inflation, but healthy food has become unaffordable for many of our neighbors.
We recently pulled some internal food distribution data. Our team was not surprised by them, but you might be:
• Over the last year, we have seen a 39% increase in overall people served across our service area.
• There is 43% increase in people served through partner agency food pantries.
• We are serving approximately 1000 more meals per month at The Master’s Table soup kitchen.
• The Find Help page on our website has seen a 48% increase in the past 90 days, up 32% since last week.
• Lastly, we work with the Fort Gordon Christmas House, which provides military families with gifts for children, while we discreetly provide them with food as they “shop” for toys and essentials for their children. Last year, we served 192 families, and this year we are being asked to provide enough food for 375 families.
Fresh produce is often difficult to afford for families who are struggling, and is one of our most-requested food items
These numbers are staggering, because behind every number is a person. Family budgets are not just being stretched by inflation, but healthy food has become unaffordable for many of our neighbors. The stereotype that those needing charitable food are not working is simply false. The majority of the families and individuals we serve are working, but still have to sacrifice healthy food to pay for increased gas, transportation, housing, and medical costs.
The food Golden Harvest distributes comes through four distinct streams: purchased, donated, USDA commodities and the Georgia Nutritional Assistance Program (GNAP), which is a state-run program that provides food to Georgia families with children. The four warehouses we run look much emptier than last year. We are having to find creative ways to procure healthy food and get it out to the rural communities that rely on us.
Golden Harvest Food Bank is purchasing more food and at higher prices and soaring gas prices have increased the truck fleet expenses needed to get food to rural counties.
Golden Harvest Food Bank is purchasing more food and at higher prices and soaring gas prices have increased the truck fleet expenses needed to get food to rural counties. Due to supply chain issues, retail donations are down. Our organization is spending 21 percent more on food than at the end of last year and fuel costs are up 35%.
Even with the drastically increased needs in our community, and the challenges we are facing at the food bank, we have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season.
Our recent It’s Spooky To Be Hungry® campaign raised over one million meals through the
Volunteers serve a hot lunch to our guests at The Master’s Table Soup Kitchen in downtown Augusta
collaboration of businesses, schools, neighborhoods and individuals who stepped up to raise food and funds. It brings tears to my eyes knowing that despite inflation affecting us all, we care about our neighbors and that you, our community, is stepping up to help us meet the increased needs.
This holiday season, I want to thank you, our community. For forty years, you have stood alongside us with your financial gifts, volunteerism, food donations and open hearts to make sure our neighbors facing hunger are seen and served. I am thankful for our passionate business partners and generous donors, who fund programs that feed thousands of children, seniors and families.
This holiday season, I want to thank you. For forty years, you have stood alongside us with your financial gifts, volunteerism, food donations and open hearts.
I am thankful for the thousands of dedicated volunteers who keep showing up and stepping up.
I am thankful for the public leaders who are working on local, state and federal policies and programs to care for our neighbors facing food insecurity.
I am thankful for our team of committed staff members at all of our locations.
You have proven that we are not in this mission alone. In the face of all these challenges, together, we can take food off wish lists and fill the tables of our neighbors in need.
