Kelly is feeling the pressure. Bucks County’s mother of two young children is currently a full-time student. She and her partner have managed to generate income on their own, but she’s unsure for how long.
“Inflation is killing my family financially,” she said. “With higher gas prices, it costs me more money to get where I need to go. And more money spent on gas means less money I have to buy groceries for this week.”
Gas isn’t the only cost that’s going up. According to the latest inflation data published on May 11 by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices rose 3.9% in 2020, 6.3% in 2021, and a whopping 9.4% so far in 2022 – the largest increase in over from 40 years old.
More on BKO:You can help United Way Knock Out Hunger in Bucks County. Here’s how
According to studies United Ways Nationwide Committed to Households with Limited Assets, Restricted Income and Employment, or ALICE, the “survival budget” for groceries for a family of four in Bucks County was between $230 and $260 in the week. This is in line with the USDA’s Frugal Food Plan.
Today, that family can expect to spend at least $277 to $314 each week — an increase of about $200 per month.
Higher prices affect everyone, but higher-income families are generally able to absorb the increased expenses by cutting back on extras, such as vacations, online subscriptions, and other discretionary spending.
Alice families like Kelly’s don’t have that pillow – and her family is far from alone. While about 6% of Bucks County residents live in poverty, another 24% are ALICE.
ALICE families usually have little or no savings and a direct paycheck to paycheck. They generally earn too much to qualify for federal benefits or subsidies, and inflation means that their salaries are paid for less and less than their basic needs.
To make ends meet, ALICE families are increasingly turning to food pantries to fill in the gaps in their food budgets, but pantries are feeling the pinch, too. According to Feeding America, 55% of Feeding America food banks report a decrease in food donations. This means that food stores have to buy more food at higher prices to feed more people.
Fortunately, their donations haven’t gone down, but they’re busier, said Nancy Funk, manager of Lester Bahrt Food Pantry at First United Methodist Church of Fairless Hills. “We are now seeing between 55 and 65 families a week, where before we were feeding 30-40,” she said. About a quarter of these families are new to us. Some of them are older and say they come because of the higher prices at the grocery store.”
The United Way of Bucks’ Bucks Knocks Out Hunger campaign, running now through June 17, will help boost the county’s food stores.
The initiative will provide 100,000 nutritious meals and raise $110,000 in additional nutritional support. “We need the public’s support to make BKO Hunger a success. A lot of people are counting on the extra meals we’ll be serving,” said Tim Philpott, BKO Hunger coordinator for the United Way.
Kelly is grateful for the support, but remains concerned. I was recently able to get food from the United Way’s Help Center to help them get by. “I’m afraid we’ll end up in trouble,” she said. “I will take whatever support I can get to help our family through this difficult time.”
The United Way Bucks Knocks Out Hunger campaign is underway and will culminate in a meal packing event on June 17th at Neshaminy Mall. Through the campaign, the organization hopes to pack 100,000 nutrient-rich meals stable on the shelves and raise $110,000 to support local food relief programs. Individual donations can be made online at www.uwbucks.org/bkohunger or by mailing a check to the United Way of Bucks County at 413 Hood Boulevard, Fairless Hills, PA 19030. Please write BKO Hunger on the note line.
Tim Philpott is the director of financial stability and health for the United Way of Bucks County.