Higher food prices impact social service agencies

GREENSBORO -- Food prices are on the rise. Figures from the U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics Show February year-to-year prices for meats were up 9.2 percent and prices for fresh vegetables climbed 8.9 percent.

The impact could be felt at many social service agencies including Greensboro Urban Ministry and the Guilford County Department of Social Services.

Greensboro Urban Ministry executive director Rev. Mike Aiken said higher food prices were squeezing the cash donations it uses to purchase food, much of it for its Potter's House community kitchen.

"We spend approximately well over $100,000 a year just in buying food for Greensboro Urban Ministry,” said Aiken. “If the price of food goes up 10 or 20 percent, that's a direct addition to our bottom line on our budget."

But Aiken said the impact was greatest on the nearly 30,000 people who come to the ministry each year for emergency food assistance.

"Because of this great recession we're seeing more and more people who have never had to come to us before who have lost their jobs, they've lost their homes and need food to survive,” he said.

Rising food prices also are driving a growing number of people to seek assistance at the Guilford County Department of Social Services.

"From February of last year to February of this year we've seen an increase of 22.5 percent in the number of households actually receiving food stamps,” said Goioa Garrett, manager of the agency's food and nutrition program.

Garrett said approximately 40,000 households in Guilford County receive food assistance every month. But with each dollar buying less food, recipients were more limited than before in what they could purchase.

"Less fresh fruit and vegetables,” said Garrett. “They tend to buy processed meats and carbohydrates such as rice and potatoes and pasta to make the meals spread out. And, of course, we know that has a negative impact on the nutritional value of what they're getting."

Aiken said as food prices continued to rise, donations to organizations including had become increasingly important.

"This is really a tough time,” he said. “That's kind of discouraging to see how many families are struggling but on the opposite side of that it really encourages me to see that the community seems to come together and provide donations and they want to help out."