Miniat Cares: Farmers to Families Food Box Program

Nationwide, nonprofit food banks safely store and distribute millions of pounds of food to local food programs. Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, nearly 35 million people received support from their neighborhood food pantries and school programs. While that number appears staggering, this was the lowest rate of food insecurity in more than 20 years.

As a result of Covid-related joblessness and skyrocketing unemployment rates driven by the pandemic, the demands on food banks have increased tremendously to rates we have not seen since The Great Depression. It is projected that in 2020 nearly 50 million individuals, equating to 1 in 6 people, including 1 in 4 children, will experience some level of food insecurity.

LIMITED ACCESS TO QUALITY FOODS

For individuals receiving support from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and local food programs, access to high quality, nutritious foods can still remain limited to completely unavailable. Low cost and long shelf life often factor into the food selected by participants at the grocery store, stretching their SNAP benefits to provide as many meals as possible for their family.

In turn, the ability to manage highly perishable foods in a food bank or food pantry, often eliminates these options from programs as well. The fresh produce, milk, and meats that many American’s consume as part of a balanced diet, are simply too costly or inaccessible to those facing food insecurity.

Despite a lack of availability, the most commonly requested items at food pantries are: