CHARLOTTE — High food prices are forcing shoppers to buy less to save money. From customers to food pantries, everyone is grappling with food inflation.
“The meats are more expensive, bread is more expensive -- milk, eggs, everything,” shopper Cyndi Brown said.
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Brown said she is limiting her trips to the grocery store.
“It really impacts your monthly budget, what you can spend, like, you have to pick and choose what items you’re going to get. And really just be cautious of it,” she said.
At Loaves & Fishes, those economic conditions have trickled down to its food pantry. Shelves are usually stacked with food donations.
“Prices are high, so it’s not as easy to pick up an extra can of green beans,” said Danielle Moore, chief operating officer at Loaves & Fishes, and Friendship Trays. “It is impacting us dramatically.”
Moore oversees operations for the pantry and said the high prices are resulting in a higher need, seeing a new surge of people showing up.
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“When we don’t have the extra generosity from the community, it does affect how we have to purchase more food in order to continue to give to the community,” Moore said. “The numbers that we’ve served have actually surpassed our 2020 COVID numbers, so the demand is high.”
Despite the challenge, Moore said the food pantry is still able to give food to neighbors in need.
“We’re here. We want to be anyone’s answer to food insecurity and will continue to serve those that do need our help,” she said.
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