Introduction
As the world continues to grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a massive food shortage is looming, according to food banks across the globe. With the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, many people are struggling to make ends meet and are turning to food banks for assistance. This has led to an unprecedented demand for food assistance, and food banks are struggling to keep up with the demand. In this article, we will explore the causes of the looming food shortage, the impact it is having on food banks, and what can be done to address the issue.
A Massive Food Shortage Is Loomimg, Food Banks Say
Food banks across the country are warning of a looming food shortage, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to strain resources and put a strain on the nation’s food supply chain. The shortage is expected to be particularly acute in rural areas, where food banks are already struggling to meet the needs of their communities.
The National Association of Food Banks (NAFB) estimates that the number of people facing food insecurity has increased by more than 50 percent since the start of the pandemic. The organization is calling on the federal government to provide additional funding to help food banks meet the increased demand.
“We are facing a crisis of unprecedented proportions,” said NAFB President and CEO Diana Aviv. “The need for food assistance has never been greater, and the resources available to meet that need have never been more limited.”
The NAFB is urging the government to provide additional funding to help food banks purchase food, hire additional staff, and expand their services. The organization is also calling for an increase in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which provide food assistance to low-income households.
“We need to ensure that everyone has access to the food they need to stay healthy and nourished,” said Aviv. “We must act now to ensure that no one goes hungry during this crisis.”
As coronavirus instances are quickly on the climb nationwide, People are relying on meals banks and pantries throughout the nation extra so than ever earlier than. Sadly, such heavy reliance additionally means these locations are being depleted of sources—and rapidly.
Meals banks throughout Texas, for instance, are already making ready for meals shortages between now and the early months of 2021. Along with extra Texans needing constant entry to meals, three key federal and state applications that enabled meals banks in-state to maintain up with the demand this yr are about to finish. (Associated: 8 Grocery Objects That Might Quickly Be in Quick Provide.)
“Meals insecurity is twice as excessive as earlier than the pandemic. We have had a whole lot of federal help and that is all going away on the finish of the yr,” Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas—which coordinates the 21 meals banks within the state—mentioned to the Texas Tribune. “We face a sort of a meals cliff and we’re fearful of how lengthy we’re going to have the ability to sustain with demand with out the assistance of the federal authorities.”
Feeding South Florida is presently dealing with related challenges. Beginning this week, meals banks within the area will now not have entry to about 8.4 million kilos value of produce, dairy, dry items, and meat to present to patrons in want. The CARES Act program, which has offered the meals financial institution with $5 million per thirty days in meals since April, is about to run out on Dec. 31.
“There’s about to be an enormous, enormous want in South Florida,” Paco Vélez, president and CEO of Feeding South Florida, mentioned to the Solar-Sentinel. “What we obtained from the [U.S. Department of Agriculture] fed an additional 50,000 households. So we will purchase $2 million value of meals in bulk as we speak, and that may final us a few weeks. We will, realistically, do this yet another time in mid-December, after which that is it.”
Originally of October, Feeding America warned that it might face a deficit of as much as 10 billion kilos of meals between that month and June 2021—that is a scarcity of about 8 billion meals. Because the coronavirus continues to exacerbate job losses nationwide, however particularly so in main, densely-populated cities.
In New York Metropolis, an estimated 1.5 million individuals presently can’t afford meals. The New York Instances stories that tens of 1000’s of residents have sooner or later, if not often, lined up outdoors of meals pantries for the primary time of their lives this yr. And pop-up pantries are starting to look in vacant buildings to assist sustain with the rising demand. For instance, in Gardner, Kansas, a restoration church is now internet hosting “The Hope Market” meals pantry twice a month to assist households within the metro space.
Backside line, if federal funding is not renewed within the close to yr, the nation might be in for a devastating starvation disaster. Feeding America presently initiatives that greater than 50 million individuals might expertise meals insecurity—a 50% enhance from 2019.
For extra, remember to learn up on What to Do If You Dwell in a Meals Desert, and join our e-newsletter for extra updates.