Need still great at pantry

In January of last year, we noted a 110% increase in clients at the Highlands Food Pantry - rocketing from 921 in January 2022 to 2068 January of 2023. This translated in increased costs of over 400% from 2022 to 2023! Those increased numbers maintained until April, when we reduced the number of visits a client could make from once/week to twice/month. We also placed signage around the pantry to inform clients and volunteers about the need to mindful of the increased strain on our resources.

On one hand, these measures had the desired effect and we saw the stress on our finances begin to ease. However, on the other hand, some of that reduction may have stemmed from clients feeling a sense of guilt and halting their use of the pantry, even in situations when they needed food.

These concerns have been recently reinforced by some troubling survey data that has come out of a new relationship with another nonprofit, MountainWise. We are currently working with that organization to better understand hunger and access to healthy food across Macon County.

Over the previous three months, independent surveyors spent some time at our pantry to glean information about hunger and food access from our clients. What they found has been a staggering reminder that we still have much work to do and we will continue to count on your support to meet these needs.

Food Pantry Director, Bonnie Dayton

In a sampling of 31 Spanish-speaking clients, here are some of the statistics:

27/31 (87.1%) Often or sometimes did not have enough to eat in last 12 months

29/31 (93.5%) Often or sometimes food bought didn’t last, not enough money to buy more in last 12 months

22/31 (71.0%) Adults skipped meals or reduced portion size because of lacking access to food in last 12 months

21/31 (67.7%) Were unable to eat enough to address hunger needs because of lacking access to adequate food at least once in the last 12 months

2/31 (6.5%) reported receiving either SNAP or WIC 

19 households with children under 18 years old (61.3% of all clients surveyed)

17/19 (89.5%) report sometimes or often not being able to feed healthy food to children as a result of lacking access to healthy food options

8/19 (42.1%) report children often or sometimes not eating enough because of lacking access to adequate food

5/19 (26.3%) report children skipping meals in the last 12 months 

7/19 (36.8%) report children receiving free or reduced lunch services through their school system during the school year