Food pantries say Washington seniors are hit the hardest by inflation

SEATTLE – Newly-released numbers present that inflation has skyrocketed nationwide since this similar time final yr. The Shopper Worth Index went up greater than 9% from a yr in the past in June and in Washington state, the numbers are even greater.  

On the Rainier Valley Meals Financial institution, volunteers are working to maintain the neighborhood wholesome and fed by delivering groceries and providing in-person “procuring” throughout which individuals can choose their very own objects without cost. 

“It provides them an opportunity to make their month-to-month wage go just a little additional,” stated Gloria Hatcher-Mays, Govt Director, Rainier Valley Meals Financial institution.   

Organizers and volunteers have watched costs skyrocket on the grocery retailer together with their shoppers, particularly domestically the place inflation has outpaced the nationwide degree. 

“For the nation, it was roughly 9.1 % for an inflation enhance within the month of June, however what we all know in Seattle it’s gone up one other share level to 10.1%, so we’ve been rather more impacted right here than somewhere else,” stated Hatcher-Mays. 

By way of demographics, one of many bigger teams the Rainier Valley Meals Financial institution serves is seniors, and they’re hit the toughest with the rising price of meals. 

“We’ve seen extra seniors discovering their option to the meals financial institution immediately themselves,” stated Hatcher-Mays.

She says social safety checks aren’t maintaining.

“We’ve seen social safety checks not likely having a rise, that correlates what occurs with inflation, so seniors are actually feeling the pinch,” stated Hatcher-Mays.

Christina Wong, Director of Public Coverage at Northwest Harvest says staff there just lately accomplished a survey of households from throughout Washington.  She says 90% reported that the price of residing was their largest barrier to getting nutritious meals. She says Congress has the chance proper now in the course of the price range reconciliation course of to convey again a few of the assets that have been misplaced, together with the expanded Little one Tax Credit score. 

“It was no shock that whereas these funds have been going out final yr, baby starvation dropped by 40%, after which they went again up once more to 40%,” stated Wong.

She says there has additionally been a drop-off in donations to meals pantries as a result of individuals are feeling extra challenged in their very own houses. Hatcher-Mays says they’ve additionally felt the pinch on the Rainier Valley Meals Financial institution. 

“From January to June, we now have seen a rise of 15% within the sum of money that we now have needed to spend to purchase the foodstuffs that we have to serve everybody right here out of the meals financial institution,” stated Hatcher-Mays.

Wong says fuel costs are one other hurdle for native households.  They used to have the ability to drive to totally different shops to comparability store to get one of the best deal on meals, however with fuel costs so excessive, it is not cost-effective to try this.