Food Banks In Key States Report Unprecedented Demand Amid Rising Prices

Food banks across swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin are seeing a surge in demand as rising living expenses drive more families to seek assistance. High prices on essentials such as rent, food and utilities are creating what officials describe as a “hunger crisis” that some food banks say is now worse than at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joe Arthur, Executive Director of Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, revealed that demand has increased by more than 50% since 2021. “We’re seeing need as high as it was during the pandemic’s peak,” Arthur explained, adding that limited resources are making it harder to meet that need today.

Food pantries in both urban centers and suburban areas are witnessing this increase. In Michigan, Feeding America’s West Michigan president, Ken Estelle, highlighted the unprecedented demand. “We have never seen this level in the 43 years we have been serving this community,” Estelle shared, describing the pressure on food banks to meet escalating needs.

According to recent data, the prices of essential goods have spiked sharply, with groceries rising 21.6%, electricity costs climbing by 28% and rent increasing 23% since January 2021. Many families, strained by these rising expenses, are turning to food banks to make ends meet, often for the first time.

The economic squeeze has become a topic of criticism for the Biden-Harris administration, with President Donald Trump pointing to the rise in grocery prices, comparing current costs to those during his administration. An RMG Research poll in September indicated that 57% of voters feel worse off financially than four years ago, reflecting discontent over the economic landscape.

As food banks brace for continued demand, officials warn that additional resources may be necessary to prevent food shortages and keep up with the increased need.