The need for donations is greater than ever.
For the month of March, nearly two-thirds of responding food banks reported an increase in demand for food assistance, according to Feeding America’s latest food bank pulse survey, a marked jump from the previous survey. In the latest survey, fielded between April 17 and May 1, around 95% of responding food banks reported seeing demand for food assistance increase or stay the same in March compared to February, with around 65% reporting an increase in the number of people seeking charitable food assistance. This is the first food bank survey gauging demand since the nationwide end of a critical pandemic-era food benefit.
By the end of February, around 20 more states stopped providing increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit amounts, known as emergency allotments. This additional assistance began in the early days of the pandemic to provide much-needed hunger relief. While the wind-down of the emergency allotments was always expected, the timing came as tens of millions of families are still feeling the stress of elevated food prices. Food banks anticipated an increase in demand given the sudden loss of billions in purchasing power for families. The latest food bank survey reflects this.
“The pandemic showed us what we can do as a nation when we rally together for a common goal. Public and private partnerships helped keep many individuals and families out of food insecurity,” said Vince Hall, chief government relations officer at Feeding America. “As that support lapses, we are seeing effects across the country with increased demand at food banks. The 2023 Farm Bill is our opportunity to support communities across the country at this critical time with strong nutrition programs.”
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