South Florida residents turn to food banks as inflation rises

OAKLAND PARK, Fla. – As the battle in opposition to inflation continues to rise, many South Florida residents are persevering with to depend on food banks for starvation aid.

Local 10 News’ Cody Weddle spoke with J.D. Smith, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who mentioned the rising prices of food are making it exhausting for individuals to reside.

“Food costs so much that they need those extra resources to get to their next paycheck,” mentioned Smith.

The workplace has partnered with Farm Share, one among our space’s largest food banks, to hand out three baggage of food per family.

“It is fantastic, it is so much help. we need money right now, so it is a blessing,” mentioned Desiel Parra, a food financial institution person.

For individuals like Parra, who just lately misplaced her job, it’s a lifeline that forestalls her household from going hungry.

Across the nation, the charges of food insecurity, which is outlined merely as not having sufficient food, have ticked up since August of final yr.

In South Florida, the numbers are far more staggering.

Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, instructed Local 10 News that Florida has had one of many sharpest will increase in starvation during the last yr.

“The bottom line is that the federal government took away cash going to struggling families,” mentioned Berg.

According to the federal authorities, after evaluating this October to final, in only a one-week interval, 20% extra Floridians couldn’t entry sufficient food.

Berg just lately launched a survey and report to monitor starvation charges throughout the nation.

He blames the top of federal packages just like the Expanded Child Tax Credit and common free college lunches, coupled with inflation.

Tiffany Tevlin, who additionally makes use of food banks, instructed Local 10 News that the rising price of food is kind of noticeable.

For the identical eggs, I used to purchase, they have been $3.00 one thing, and now they’re $5.08. Food costs have simply skyrocketed,” Tevlin mentioned.

As a results of the rising prices of food, extra individuals proceed to turn to charities like food banks.

Many of these organizations now say their provide is operating low as demand continues to develop.