Food Bank of Western Massachusetts feeling impact of inflation

The Meals Financial institution of Western Massachusetts says inflation is impacting its work offering meals to low-income individuals.

The meals financial institution provides greater than a 100 meals pantries throughout the area. Final 12 months, it distributed nearly 14 million kilos of meals.

Christina Maxwell, director of applications for the non-profit, stated greater costs are being felt on a number of fronts.

“We’re not in a position to buy as a lot meals as we usually would and fuel costs are having an impression on our capacity to distribute meals as nicely,” she stated.

The meals financial institution additionally helps individuals apply for federal meals advantages. Maxwell stated her group is listening to from extra individuals who say they’ve by no means had to try this earlier than.

“They by no means actually felt like they wanted to,” she stated. “And even some individuals who stated ‘most likely I might have certified however I did not apply’ and now they’re feeling like they need to — like they don’t have any different choice. It is simply gotten that dire for them.”

Maxwell says households are additionally being impacted by the tip of some federal pandemic-related advantages, together with the expanded youngster tax credit score.