Capital Region food banks affected by nationwide supply chain shortage
Food banks are facing rising costs to buy products, and it’s becoming harder to feed families.
It’s simply because of the supply chain shortage that food banks are seeing price increases.
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Just a few price increases the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York is seeing right now are on sugar, paper towels, ground beef, and one of the most popular items currently, turkeys.
Molly Nicol, the CEO of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, said the problems in the supply chain are also making it harder to buy some of these products because they are not in stock.
They have to alternately source some high-demand products.
"We have to go and get turkey breast or chicken or something to substitute," said Nicol. "The prices of those have gone very high, so our costs are going through the roof."
On top of the regular holiday rush they see, the shortage is also causing more people to go to food pantries, because prices are going up at the grocery store. Nicol said they are still able to feed the families who come by.
The nationwide supply chain shortage, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is hurting your wallet.
Every part of the labor force is being impacted, from the farm to transportation.
That means it’s taking longer for places to get products and merchandise, and it also causes prices to go up.
Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, said not everyone can spend an extra few dollars at the grocery store or the gas station.
"Everything is more expensive. Everything is harder to get, and that’s particularly more challenging for those who are on a fixed or low income."
Shimkus said the supply chain shortage is causing more people to rely on food pantries.
On the flip side, wages have gone up. The available jobs are tending to offer a higher pay rate.
The food bank has to raise at least another million to feed people now. That’s on top of the usual $10 million to $12 million they need to raise.
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The food bank is always accepting donations.