This information is provided by George Shaw
Summary
o Bottlenecks and changes in the supply chain for food are impacting not only our personal shopping but also our farmers and pantries.
o Food banks and pantries nationally are facing a “perfect storm” of declining supplies of food and volunteers while demand is increasing rapidly.
o Pantries and distribution programs locally are facing similar issues but the response from the Wake Forest community has been very strong in terms of donations and new programs.
o Economic recovery including reduction in unemployment is likely to be a longer term process. This means that the pressures on our pantries and food distribution programs are likely to continue for a significant period of time.
o Our local pantries and feeding programs still need support. Probably the most cost effective way is to donate money directly to these organizations so that they can purchase supplies at area food banks and through other channels.
The Big Picture
Feeding America is the umbrella organization for more than 200 food banks in the United States including two in our area. These are the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and the Inter Faith Food Shuttle.
The Perfect Storm. An article in Forbes on April 8 described a perfect storm impacting food banks and pantries. Donations are down 40-60%, new customers for food pantries are up 40% and the number of volunteers have been reduced 60%. Many of the donations traditionally are excess items from grocery stores. With the temporary shuttering of most restaurants, customers are doing more of their own cooking meaning that grocery stores have been swamped that has caused many stock outs. The number of volunteers is down significantly because of concerns over safety; social distancing guidelines has also reduced productivity at food banks and pantries.
Increase in customers at food banks and pantries. The increase in new customers at pantries has been steadily ramping up. There has been a large increase in workers who are unemployed, furloughed, or working shorter hours. The rate of unemployment was 3.5% in February 2020 before COVID-19 started impacting the economy. Estimates of unemployment for December 2020 range from 6.5% from Kiplinger to 10% from the Wall Street Journal. This represents a doubling or tripling of the share of the workforce that is unemployed compared to just before the virus impacted our economy.
The consensus of a Wall Street Journal poll of 50+ economists released yesterday indicated that it would be mid-2022 before employment would return to the February 2020 level. This means that demand at pantries is likely to remain high for a long time.
How are the pantries and feeding programs in the Wake Forest area doing?
Our pantries are doing better than described by Feeding America. Donations from the community in cash and food have remained solid. The supply from the food bank appears to be tapering off recently. Volunteers remain dedicated to helping those in need.
The concern is for sufficient food supply going forward, especially if the economic fallout continues over an extended period. Although several feeding programs have been suspended in New Hope Village in Northeast Wake Forest, additional ones have sprung up via the four Wake County Public School System sites are via faith sponsored programs.
Area farms are having difficulties. There has been much publicity about issues with the supply chain resulting in shortages of pork as well as milk being dumped. An additional issue is that much of meat, produce and shelf stable food is packaged primarily for restaurants in large containers. The process of repackaging for family size portions for grocery stores and food pantries is cumbersome.
What is the situation of farms in Wake County? Farms that have primarily sold directly to restaurants and distributors have been suffering. Farmers markets and roadside stands are doing well. However, a number of farms in Wake County and the surrounding area have been destroying crops that they cannot sell at market. There are more than 15 farms in Wake Forest’s primary zip code 27587.
Farms in Wake County had been struggling before the pandemic. Only 42% of Wake County farms were profitable according to the 2017 USDA Agricultural Census. And only 12% of county farms earned more than $100,000 a year. Yet, the amount of fresh produce (primarily sweet potatoes, squash and cucumbers) tripled between 2012 and 2017.
So, how can we help our farms while we help find sources of food for ourselves as well as the needy?
o Patronize local farmers markets and roadside stands
o Glean in the fields with Society of St. Andrew when crops are available beginning in June.
o Identify organizations and locations that can break down large quantity purchases from food distributors into family size quantities.
How residents can help
There are several ways that residents in our area can help:
Donate to pantries. Our pantries that remain open need canned and shelf stable food as well as hygiene products. The best time to donate to them is in the hour before they open for customers.
Organize drive through food drives. These are easy for organizations to set up. It helps to have a protected space such as a patio protected from the elements as well as an area indoors where the food can be stored overnight.
Donate funds. Food pantries spend much of donated funds on what they need to ensure customers receive nutritious food. This includes fresh produce at grocery stores as well as weekly pick-ups from the food bank in Raleigh. The food bank charges pantries 19 cents a pound for most items including meat.
Identify resources. The Northeast Community Coalition and other organizations are looking for non-profits that can help residents with needs arising from the economic consequences of the virus.
Volunteer. As the number of customers rises, there may be a need for more volunteers at our pantries and feeding programs. There is particular need for younger volunteers who are at least risk of catching the virus. Gleaning in the fields to pick crops will start up late spring under the sponsorship of the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA).
Drive. There will also likely be an increased requirement for folks who are willing to help out by driving. This includes transporting food between pantries as well as delivering food to home bound citizens.
Reduce Isolation. There are opportunities to help fellow residents in this time of uncertainty. Please call, email or text someone you know to make sure they are okay.
Food Distribution Programs and Contact Information
Please contact the Wake Forest Gazette or George Shaw (g0b07shaw@gmail.com) if you are aware of additional programs or would like to start one.
Glory Tabernacle (120 Weather St., Youngsville)
– Tuesdays, 2 pm
North Wake Church (1212 S. Main St., WF)
– Sundays, 8:45 to 10:30 am
Northern Regional Center (350 E. Holding St., WF)
– Mondays – Thursdays lunch/breakfast program (drive by)
– Friday weekend special program (drive by)
Oak Level Christian Church (2279 Cedar Creek Rd. Youngsville)
– Wednesdays, 11 am – 12 noon
Raleigh Dream Center (programs at New Hope Village in Northeast as well as mobile home parks in Rolesville and Youngsville)
– Weekdays starting at 11:30 am
– Saturdays starting at 10 am
Richland Creek Community Church (3229 Burlington Mill Rd., WF)
– 2nd & 4th Saturdays (drive through)
Rolesville High School (1099 E. Young St., Rolesville.)
– Wake County Public School System Children & Family Meal Site
– Weekdays, 11 am to 1 pm
Rolesville Middle School (4700 Burlington MIlls Dr., Rolesville)
– Wake County Public School System Children & Family Meal Site
– Weekdays, 11 am to 1 pm
Tri Area Ministry (149 E. Holding St., WF)
– Mondays, Wednesdays & 3rd Saturdays, 10 am to 1 pm (drive through)
– Food distribution at Spring St. Church (northeast WF) 4th Saturday
Universal Outreach (4913 Universal Dr., WF)
– 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9-11 am
Wake Forest Baptist Church
– Good Neighbor Ministry, Saturdays at 11 am passes out hot dogs and water at Taylor St. Park
– Mobile Soup Kitchen, Wednesdays starting at 5:45 pm in the parking lot at Olive Branch Baptist Church
– Mobile Market (partnered with Inter Faith Food Shuttle, 3rd Tuesday starting at 4 pm (drive through)
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