The Triple Threat Facing NourishNC: Rising Costs, Program Cuts, Growing Hunger
Steve McCrossan
Our board and staff have spent significant time preparing for the challenges ahead. While the full impact is still uncertain, one thing is clear: the road ahead looks rough. NourishNC is facing what we call a “triple threat.”
- Food costs continue to rise and are up 29% over the last 5 years.
- There are or will be significant cuts to social safety net programs like SNAP, Medicaid, HOP and various Food Bank related funding cuts like LFPA and TEFAP.
- 1 and 2 will lead to a corresponding rise in hunger and increased need for NNC’s services.
Rising Food Costs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food cost are up 29% since February 2020. This hurts NourishNC and our families. Families who are already cost-of-living burdened are forced to make painful trade-offs at the grocery store. For NourishNC, higher food costs mean our dollars don’t stretch as far, even as demand for food rises.
Cuts to Safety Net Programs
Federal and state cuts to programs like SNAP, Medicaid, HOP, and Food Bank funding streams (LFPA, TEFAP) are either here or on the horizon. As these supports shrink, families will have fewer resources to rely on with one of our partners lamenting that they are “facing a coming crisis when all our clients will lose food stamps (SNAP).”
Increased Need
Rising costs and program cuts together will drive more families to seek our help. This puts even greater strain on NourishNC’s programs, staff, and resources.
What This Means for NourishNC
The challenges are real and growing: rising food prices, shrinking safety nets, and more families turning to us for help. While we cannot control all the issues we face, we can control how we prepare and respond. NourishNC will continue to plan carefully, stretch every dollar, and stand ready to meet the increasing need. To that end, NourishNC will rise to meet the need by expanding our warehouse, boosting cold storage, and expanding the Mobile MoM to more locations.
The road ahead may be rough, but with the commitment of our board, staff, volunteers, and supporters, we will remain exactly where kids need us most – at the table, making sure they don’t go hungry.
