Food pantries need more donations due to rising food prices

WACO, Texas (KWTX) – The Food for Families program is almost here and food pantries are preparing to receive much-needed donations.

With inflation and rising food prices, food banks are having to recalculate how they count donated pounds, using a new formula that equates 2 pounds of food to a dollar instead of two and a half.

Now 2 pounds. food = 1 dollar spent.

Paul Ellison of the McGregor Food Pantry says it’s not just prices that are rising, as demand for food is also rising.

“All of our food pantries deal with the same thing; we’re all dealing with increased demand, we’re all dealing with having to spend more on food,” Allison said.

Dr. Rob Tennant, an accounting professor at Texas A&M Central Texas, explains that people need to donate more in order for food banks to match what they made last year.

“Food banks are losing 5 pounds of purchasing power for every $10 this year. This means food banks are relying more than ever on donations from the public to compensate,” Dr Tennant explained.

Donations can be canned goods, cash or even a check.

You can also donate online or through the KWTX app.