Rising heating costs lead to increased hunger, fewer food pantry donations

Thu, Mar 27, 2008

The average household has paid $986 for heat this winter, 10 percent more than last year, forcing families to make difficult choices between heat and food.

For many of Michigan's working families, it means turning to local food banks to fill the gap, according to the Food Bank Council of Michigan.

"Rising energy costs and heating bills have much more impact on the most vulnerable families," said Bill Long, interim executive director of the FBCM and former chairman of the Michigan Public Service Commission, the state regulatory body for public utilities.

The crunch is being felt at local food pantries, which are running low on basic food and household needs.

Officials at the Salvation Army said that, while they tend to receive a lot of vegetables, they are low on pantry items such as tuna fish, boxed dinners, cereals, paper products and cleaning supplies. They are also in need of fruit.

Love INC's six food pantries are in a similar situation. Currently, the organization is most in need of items such as canned fruit and meats, cold and hot cereals, sauces, condiments, juice, snacks, flour, oil, and personal care items.

Natural gas, which is used to heat most U.S. homes, costs an average of 10.7 percent more this winter, while electricity costs an average of 2.7 percent more, Long said. Should families become forced into the position of choosing between heat and food, they should talk to their energy supplier to maintain heat and contact a local food bank for assistance, he said.

"Even though food banks across Michigan are handing out food to needy residents faster than they can stock the shelves, families still need to ask for help," Long said.

Cuts proposed in the 2009 federal budget would leave a $24-million hole in state energy assistance, affecting up to 82,000 Michigan residents. The proposed cuts come at a time when a struggling economy is hurting charities across the board.

"People are calling and saying, 'I can't afford food. I'm trying not to get my gas shut off,'" said Dave Karr, president of the FBCM Board and director of the American Red Cross Regional Food Distribution Center in Lansing. "At the same time, our ability to provide enough food is being impacted because donations to us are down."

On the Net:

Salvation Army Grand Haven: www.usc.salvationarmy.org/grandhaven

Love INC: www.loveinctricities.org