OUR OPINION: Inflation and government policy cause hunger, but you can help

The most insidious thing about inflation is that it inflicts the most pain on those who have the least economic resources.

Having more money doesn’t make inflation painless, but if you have a six-figure income, you’ll be able to absorb a 20% increase in gas prices more easily than someone earning minimum wage, and depending on your vehicle and the fuel you use to commute to work.

The same goes for food. According to measurements by the US Department of Agriculture, between 2019 and 2023, food prices increased by 25%. As a result, the number of people struggling with food insecurity is increasing.

In 2021-2022, Feeding America found that food insecurity increased from 10.4% to 13.5% in its “Mind the Meal Gap” report. This means that 44 million Americans are at risk of malnutrition.

And inflation is just one factor that is forcing families to make meals more economically unaffordable. Feeding America’s latest report covers the period in which the federal expanded Covid-19 Child Tax Credit expired.

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy reported that the U.S. child poverty rate — 12.6% in 2019, just before the pandemic — fell to 5.2% in 2021, before the expiration of the expanded child tax credit.

In 2022, child poverty rose to 12.4%, almost exactly at pre-pandemic levels.

The local statistics are, if anything, even more dire.

The Food Bank of Mercer County reported this week that Feeding America reported that 15,410 people – including 4,390 children – among our neighbors in the county are at risk of not having enough to eat.

This means that demand for food bank services will increase by 16% this year. As of last week, the food bank had distributed 1.1 million pounds of food since Jan. 1.

The food bank is at the forefront of local efforts to care for people at risk of hunger, including: as part of the Mobile Pantry, Military Share and PA Senior Food Box.

To alleviate childhood hunger, the food bank offers the BackPack program, which allows elementary and middle school students to take home nutritious food on weekends, and Myron’s Meal Mobile, which provides hot lunches throughout the county during the summer when students are not home. at school. receiving meals at school.

The food bank also provides meals to approximately 40 member agencies throughout the county

In the face of growing hunger, the Mercer County Food Bank needs donations from the community, and while food donations – such as the 6,733 pounds collected May 11 in the county during the National Letter Carriers Association’s annual Stamp Out Hunger Food drive – financial donations go a long way.

To donate to the food bank, contact the agency at 724-981-0353 or visit its website at mercercountyfoodbank.org. Links to sources used in this article can be found online at sharonherald.com.