‘Come here with dignity.’ Inflation piles onto demand for CMS program feeding families
Joyce Peoples couldn’t help but cry after a group of volunteers — mostly teachers — filled her car with bags of canned goods, boxes of pasta, eggs, meat, fresh vegetables and a box of mangoes.
“We work hard,” said Peoples, who collected herself in front of Westerly Hills Academy before driving off. “God is good.”
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina has worked with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to provide mobile food pantries for schools across the district for more than a decade. The pantries run throughout the year, but spikes in food and gas prices have made them more crucial for hundreds of families with school children.
“Through the pandemic we saw the increase in need and we’re still seeing it,” said Jessica McEachern, the Westerly Hills Academy social worker. “We’re a Title I school, so we typically have a need. But with school being out and the high food prices, we have families who are struggling.”
Westerly Hills Academy, with more than 400 students, hosts a mobile food pantry at least once a month. On Tuesday, more than 100 bags and boxes of food were packed. Nearly 20 volunteers helped load them into cars as families drove through.
“We don’t ask questions, and they can come here with dignity,” said Raukell Robinson, of CMS’ community partnerships and family engagement. “Some people are coming here just to pick up food for their families. Others are coming through to pick up for others in the community who are in need.”
What do CMS food pantries provide?
Robinson said there are mobile food pantries scheduled almost nightly in the district. Some nights have more than one. Families learn about the schedule through their respective school.
“We want every family to know that if they need food, they can contact the school principal, social worker … we will get them food,” Robinson said. “We are here for the families. We know it’s tough out there and if we can give them a little break from spending money on food, they can come get some groceries.”
Each box or bag of food will last a family of four at least a few weeks. Depending on the availability of items, paper products also are included. Meats can include ham, frozen chicken or ribs, which were provided at Tuesday’s mobile pantry.
Rosanna Saladin-Subero, director of the district’s partnerships and family engagement, said the average number of families served per site is around 130, with highs of nearly 300 families. Saladin-Subero said pantry numbers rise during summer months when traditional classes are out because many children don’t have access to the daily breakfasts and lunches public schools serve.
“The community is still demanding that help,” Saladin-Subero said. “The concern is because prices have gone up, we’re going to see food donations go down. The hope is we can find a way to keep these students and their families fed.”
Nine out of 10 parents who responded to a national survey said rising prices are making it harder to make ends meet. Respondents to the May survey from ParentsTogether Action, a nonprofit parent advocacy group, said rising costs are more noticeable when it comes to food prices, gas, utilities and rent.
“You hear about people struggling to feed their families,” said Hopewell High School student Ryleigh Insley, 14, who volunteered to help hand out food to families Tuesday. “But it’s eye-opening when you see it.”
Donate to food pantries
Inflation affects organizations that provide produce for food pantries, too, said Kay Carter, executive director of Second Harvest.
“We have approximately 40 trucks and tractor trailers on the road in a given week, and we purchase significant quantities of food,” Carter said. “We are hoping that folks will continue to donate and help us keep the mobile program and other programs going.”
Visits to Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays, a Charlotte nonprofit that provides groceries and meals, increased 15% from May — 8,128 visits — to June — 9,392 visits — said Sue Bruce, marketing and events director. When comparing year-over-year numbers, the program has seen an “explosion in individuals served,” she said.
“To put things into context, in June of last year, many families and individuals were still benefiting from federal programs established to help families through the pandemic,” Bruce said. “This year, many of those programs have ended and, combined with the rising costs of food and fuel, our numbers have risen significantly.”
In June, Loaves & Fishers/Friendship Trays recorded 4,504 visits. Last month, it recorded 9,392 visits.
Robinson encourages those who want to help and can to continue donating.
“Now families are worried about how they’re going to afford school supplies,” she said. “As long as there is a need, we will still be here. Food prices are high, but we will find a way. Come hell or high water.”
To donate money to Second Harvest Food Bank, visit secondharvestmetrolina.org/donation. To donate unopened, shelf-stable food, visit secondharvestmetrolina.org/give-food.
This story was originally published July 7, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
