The memory of a 6-year-old boy clutching a box of cereal as if it were a teddy bear came to Libby A. Vaughan’s head on Thursday. The image, a sweet but painful memory, illustrates the needs of the region as despair pervades.
On Thursday, Vaughan, CEO of Food Bank RGV, discussed the needs that currently exist in the Rio Grande Valley, where inflation has particularly hit the poor, and food insecurity has risen as a result.
The Food Bank has launched its fundraising campaign called “Help Kids Get Through The Summer,” which encourages residents to donate and help provide children across the valley with food this summer.
According to Vaughan, the “need is always here.” However, the food bank is seeing an increase in families as food becomes more expensive.
Just how much? The nonprofit organization, which serves the food needs of the valley, has increased the number of families seeking help from 64,000 to 142,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaughan said those numbers went down as the pandemic went down. Inflation, however, brought the need back to the pandemic-era numbers.
“Almost more than 100% increase in the amount of individuals who need help,” Vaughan explains. “Not only is it summer, but now we have the high prices of food in our stores and the fuel economy going through the roof affecting everyone.”
In the last two months, the Food Bank has seen a 20% increase in the number of individuals in need of assistance.
Now the food bank sees the numbers increase from 76,000 people to as many as 91,000 who need the help of the food bank.
Rising food and fuel costs also have a negative impact on organization operations.
For example, the budget of the food bank for fuel has increased by 30% in the last two months, while the budget for food has seen an increase of 14%.
“We spent more money when we came to the food bank to feed the needs we have here,” Vaughan said. “As food costs and fuel prices continue to rise, our customers’ needs will continue to rise.”
Even though the food bank receives supplies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these items make up about 49% of the food available in the bank. However, in the last two years, they have seen repeated cancellations in food deliveries due to the pandemic.
One of the goals of the nonprofit is to provide families with the four main food groups, protein, fruits, vegetables and grains. However, in recent years, they find that they lack certain supplies and have taken it upon themselves to buy these things for families.
“They deserve a variety of products, not just beans and rice. We want to make sure we give people something to eat with,” Vaughan said.
The Food Bank is now looking to its community to provide the necessary funds or supplies to help feed families in need. According to a press release, an anonymous donor will match any donation received by the food bank, and is willing to match up to $ 10,000.
“Money is the biggest thing we need right now because it helps us buy food,” Vaughan said. “Think about what your children like to eat at home – that’s what our children (we serve) also need.”
To donate to the Food Bank, visit foodbankrgv.com or by calling “SummerMatch” at 44-321, or in person at 724 N. Cage Blvd. and Pharr.
What foods should I stockpile for survival?
The best food you need in your stock See the article : Global food kilometers account for almost 20% of total food system emissions.
- Bottles of water.
- Canned or boxed milk.
- Canned meat.
- Packaged dried meat like beef.
- Canned fruit and juice or water, not syrup.
- Canned vegetables in water.
- Canned low-sodium soup.
- Protein Bars.
What kind of food should I store during the Covid 19 pandemic? Vegetables such as celery, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, onions, sweet potatoes, beets, squash, oranges and apples. Salt canned vegetables. Drain and rinse canned vegetables to further reduce salt. Choose frozen or canned fruit that is packaged in 100% juice or water.
Can you donate toiletries to charity shops?
MAKE-UP AND TOILETRIES A number of charity shops accept articles when they are clearly new and unused: Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie, Mind, PDSA, Oxfam, British Heart Foundation, Age UK and Save The Children have all told us that they are these take things as long as they have been sealed.
What is the meaning of soup kitchens?
noun. a place where food, usually soup, is served with little or no cost for that need. On the same subject : Wherever You Can Get Free & Cheap Food on the First Day of Summer. Military queue. (in World War I) a mobile kitchen.
What is another word for soup kitchen?
What did soup kitchens provide?
Soup kitchens usually serve soup and bread. Soup was economical because water could be added to serve more people when needed. To see also : Food banks need state assistance. In the beginning of the Depression, Al Capone, the famous gangster from Chicago, founded the first soup kitchen. He started it because he wanted to clean up his foamy image.
What does soup kitchen stand for?
A soup kitchen is a place where homeless people or very poor people are provided with free food.
