Are you experiencing sticker shock every time you check out at the grocery store? Us too.

Food costs have soared since the start of 2020, including the 15% rise in meat, poultry, fish, and egg prices. Whether you’re feeling the pressure on your own budget or not, you’ve probably heard the phrase “supply chain disruptions” more this year than any other.

Grocery stores and food manufacturers have had to pay steeper fees for product, labor, and transportation during the pandemic. To stay afloat, they’re passing some of those expenses to their customers.

As a food bank, we don’t have that option. The groceries and meals that we provide to our participants and our partners are 100% free. That means we bear the entire burden of inflation.

Where It Leaves Us

So far, we’ve fared well. Because of astounding support from donors like you, our shelves have remained stocked. This is also thanks to the impressive agility of our team. Like any well-run business, we thoughtfully budget for and purchase supplies ahead of time. In today’s landscape, however, our food procurement experts are having to constantly adjust budget lines and purchase plans to accommodate the ever-changing prices and availability of the foods that our participants and partners need most.

Though we’ve kept pace amid the many challenges, the long-term unpredictability makes us nervous.

If this volatility continues, we’ll face two options: make trade-offs in how we spend our money (for example, purchase less warehouse supplies and forego facilities improvements) or fundraise to fill the gap.

Our fundraising team is already tasked with raising 36% more money this year than before the pandemic. While further increasing this year’s fundraising goal is ambitious, it’s a far better solution than sacrificing other needed investments to free up funds for food purchasing.

What You Can Do

This is where you come in. With a year-end gift to Community Food Share, you will help set us up for success in 2022.

We recognize that, like us, inflation is affecting your spending decisions. As you consider how to make every dollar go further, we urge you to consider our cause. Despite the supply chain challenges we’re facing, our food bank still turns every $15 you donate into $75 of groceries for your neighbors. This holiday season, make an investment that pays dividends for your community.