2021 Patch Holiday Food Drive In CO: Give To Feeding America

DENVER, CO — A stubborn pandemic, rising food prices, and supply chain issues combine to increase the urgency of the 2021 Patch Holiday Food Drive, which is taking place through Dec. 31 in Colorado and across our network of more than 1,000 sites.

When the COVID-19 pandemic upended the lives of Americans last year and threw them into a sea of uncertainty, Patch partnered with Feeding America because we knew some of the estimated 13.1 million working-age adults who asked for free meals or groceries for the first time included people here in Colorado.

The situation has eased some as Americans go back to work, but food insecurity remains a big problem. Feeding America estimated that 42 million Americans, including 13 million children, would face food insecurity in 2021.

In 2019, around 9.8 percent of Coloradans — or 566,440 people — were considered food insecure, according to Feeding America data. As the fallout from the pandemic continues, Feeding America estimates that number will grow even higher.

Higher prices at the grocery store make it worse for people who are struggling to feed themselves and their families. Officials at the nation’s 200 food banks, which supply 60,000 local food pantries and meal programs around the country, are paying two to three times more than they were before the pandemic as supply chain bottlenecks, lower inventory and labor shortages drive up food costs.

• RELATED: U.S. Food Banks Struggle To Feed Hungry Amid Surging Prices

Some of the affected programs in Denver's metro area include:

• The Food Bank of The Rockies
• Rose of Sharon Food Bank
• Northwest Family Assistance
• Metro Caring
• The Action Center
• Community Table
• Denver Inner City Parish
• North Denver Cares Food Pantry
• Denver Rescue Mission

"Our monthly food distribution volume is still significantly above pre-COVID-19 levels," said Aditi Desai, spokesperson for Food Bank of The Rockies.

"Feeding America projects that 1 in 8 people in our region is food insecure. At a recent food distribution, we met Alpha. She's a 101 and unfortunately lost both of her children to COVID. Without their support, the food she picks up through Food Bank of the Rockies has become a lifeline. And we hear stories like this regularly. We will keep showing up for our communities regardless of the challenges.

"But we can't do this work alone. We need you. The three most impactful ways to help are by volunteering, giving a financial gift, and sharing food assistance resources with community members experiencing hunger. Every dollar donated helps us get enough food out the door for four meals, and 96 cents of every dollar goes directly into our food distribution programs," Desai said.

"With inspired support from community members, we can ensure that every person in our region has the resources to thrive. Check out foodbankrockies.org to find information about volunteering, giving financial gifts, and where to find food assistance."

Bryan Nichols, the vice president of sales for Transnational Foods Inc., which delivers food to more than 100 food banks associated with Feeding America, told The Associated Press that supply chain issues may be easing, but the higher costs of food shipped from overseas will stick around for a while.

“An average container coming from Asia prior to COVID would cost about $4,000,” Nichols said. “Today, that same container is about $18,000.”

Peanut butter is another staple that hungry families rely on because it has relatively high nutritional value and is available for a price they can afford — or, rather, it was.

Lynne Telford, the chief executive at the Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado in Colorado Springs, told the AP the cost of a truckload — or 40,000 pounds — of peanut butter has soared 80 percent from June 2019 to $51,000 in August. It costs 19 percent more to make mac and cheese than it did a year ago, and 5 percent more to cook a hamburger than it did three months ago.

Katie Fitzgerald, Feeding America’s CEO, told the AP she’s not sure how long food banks will be able to absorb the higher costs.

“What happens when food prices go up is food insecurity for those who are experiencing it just gets worse,” Fitzgerald said.

That means people who are used to getting a family-size can of tuna may have to settle for smaller cans or substitute some other staple to stretch their food dollars. It’s like adding “insult to injury” reeling from the uncertainty wrought by the pandemic, Fitzgerald said.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

How You Can Help

Now through Dec. 31, we’re encouraging readers to make a tax-deductible contribution to Feeding America in the Patch Holiday Food Drive. Every $1 given to the organization buys 10 meals.

Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2021, more than 32 million Americans, including 13 million children, will not have enough nutritious food to eat. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.