WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – “Affordability” has been a buzzword for most of the year, and the Kansas Food Bank is part of those conversations.
Last year, a dollar would provide three meals. This year, it covers a maximum of three.
A couple of factors are at play — first, the food bank is serving about 7,000 more households than at this time last year.
Also, the prices of gas, fuel and food have risen.
The food bank needs donations, whether it’s non-perishable food items or money, to buy what clients need.
Donations are down about 20 percent so far, and the holidays have yet to arrive.
“We’re spending … $3.4 million buying product, so that’s gonna jump up 14 percent. So that’s huge for us,” Kansas Food Bank CEO Brian Walker said. “Then you add another inflation piece for us — our fuel costs to deliver products, because we serve 85 counties. (Those costs are) up 51 percent.”
The food bank has boxes at all Dillon’s stores for donations. For the holidays, stuffing, cranberry sauce, canned vegetables and other traditional items are on the wish list.
The food bank simply asks that you don’t donate items in glass containers.
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