MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Marinette food pantry says it’s seeing food insecurity at an all time high.
St. Vincent de Paul District of Marinette says it’s experiencing record-breaking demand and it’s expected to get worse.
In 2022, the pantry served more than 275,000 pounds to local neighbors in need – a nearly 150% increase year-over-year.
This demand has only increased in 2023 and if the need continues at this rate, the pantry says it can expect to surpass 500,000 pounds of food this year.
This expected demand is not taking into account the recent announcement that the additional EBT benefits families have been receiving during the COVID-19 pandemic will be discontinued next month.
“2023 is going to be a hard year,” SVdP Executive Director Ashley Berken said. “We already have numbers higher than we have ever seen. Pair that with many families losing hundreds of dollars per month in EBT benefits and the ever-increasing cost of groceries, and we will be in a tight spot.”
Since the beginning of the year, St. Vincent de Paul has distributed more than 77,000 pounds of food; that’s over 50% of the entire distribution in 2021 being given away in eight weeks.
To donate to the pantry, click here
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