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Hello Ken,
In 51 years, Nourish has never seen our shelves so empty.
The cause? High food costs, along with fewer resources for food banks.
Last year, Nourish food banks saw a 13% increase in guests, while we received 9% less food. This year, we have already seen a 20% increase in guests compared to last year and anticipate spending over $700,000 on food. This is the most we have ever budgeted for, by far. And, we cannot get there without your help!
“I’ve noticed there is a lot less food than there used to be, but it’s still enough to get me through the week, and if I have to come back there will still be food for me.” Jeanie is a senior who works part-time while also caring for her adult son with special needs. In addition, she supports her 85-year-old mother who is also working part-time to help make ends meet. The food bank allows Jeanie and her family to use their limited income for necessities like medical care and housing costs.
Two years ago, the cost of at-home food jumped 11.4%, then last year we saw another 5% increase, with an even greater increase for proteins and dairy products (our two most requested items!). Nourish food banks have always prioritized high-quality, fresh, nutritious foods. These high prices are strangling our food purchasing funds and result in fewer food donations from our regional partners. As costs rise, so too does food-insecurity.
“Boy, has it saved us. So. Many. Times! Those food stamps only last two and a half to three weeks.” Jamie, a mom of four, with three autistic sons relies on Nourish food banks to supplement her income and food stamps. “It’s been such a blessing, we really, really rely on that meat and fresh produce.”
Nourish’s goal is to provide enough food for every guest to make at least 3 meals a day for 3 days, each week they visit us. But it’s not enough to just provide meals, we all deserve to have access to highly nutritious food that fits our needs.
“The food banks we are used to are really just self-stable stuff, this is actually good food. We aren’t getting stuff that’s bad, it’s really nice. My boys have like five ‘safe’ foods, and I can almost always find them at the food bank,” said Jamie.
With your help, Nourish can continue providing these safe, nutritious foods to families like Jamie’s and Jeanie’s. As the largest food bank network in Pierce County, Nourish is uniquely positioned to make the most of donations through bulk purchasing. While you may only be able to buy a few cans of food at the grocery store, for $50 we can purchase over three cases of food, distributing it among families in need across the county.
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