Valley food banks strained by SNAP cuts and inflation
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High gas prices, grocery inflation and an unprecedented cut to food stamps have driven record numbers of people to Valley food banks, nonprofit leaders tell Axios.
Why it matters: "They're neighbors of ours. They're fellow Arizonans. And they're doing everything they can to take care of their families," St. Mary's Food Bank CEO Milt Liu says.
The big picture: About 470,000 fewer Arizonans are receiving food assistance compared to this time last year. That includes more than 200,000 children, per a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis.
That's driven by federal funding cuts and new eligibility and verification directives, which Arizona implemented last year in a stricter way than most of the country, CBPP senior policy analyst Katie Bergh tells Axios.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enrollment subsequently dropped by about 50% from July to February, compared to the national average drop of about 9%.
Threat level: Less help, combined with higher prices on virtually everything, has resulted in "a lot more desperation and a lot more gut-wrenching hunger," St. Vincent de Paul chief program officer Jessica Berg tells us.
Zoom in: St. Vincent de Paul is looking to raise an additional $2 million and 500,000 pounds of food this year to support its operations, and it's having to get creative with how to help people, Berg says.
- When gas prices first spiked in March, they asked a donor to buy gas cards so families could still reach the organization's dining rooms.
Meanwhile, St. Mary's expects to serve 300,000 more meals this year compared to last.
- At the same time, federal cuts also slashed the amount of food they'll receive from USDA, requiring the organization to spend an additional $12 million, Liu says.
1 hopeful thing: The need is growing, but so is the compassion, the nonprofit leaders say.