The St. Mary’s Food Bank of Phoenix said this week that they are likely to have served a whopping 150,000 families in August, which is the highest number they’ve ever had to serve since opening in 1967.
As the demand for food increases, it’s not surprising that St. Mary’s is also looking for more volunteers.
As of July, the Phoenix Metropolitan Area has an inflation rate of 12.3 percent, which is higher than most areas in the United States, The Arizona Republic reported. If somebody has a large family on a shoestring budget, or they’re simply trying to make ends meet, private charities like St. Mary’s provide the necessary help people need to get through a difficult time. Arizona is certainly more affordable than some other parts of the country, but the reality is that cost of living is on the rise, and residents are feeling the pain.
We are on track to serve 150,000 families in the month of August, the most we have seen in our 55 year history of serving Arizona. Thank you to our generous donors for allowing us to say YES to all families in need.https://t.co/QV4FzKFTJv
— St. Mary's Food Bank (@StMarysFoodBank) August 25, 2022
Food banks tend to be one of the safest causes to contribute to, especially if a donor prefers to give tangible goods. Someone can arguably feel more comfortable giving to their local food bank rather than giving their money to help an endangered bald koala with wings, somewhere way around the world. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to help the endangered bald koala (a made-up animal, probably), except there’s something deeper about seeing the direct impacts of helping someone in the community.
It’s a sad state of affairs that people cannot reliably put food on the table in 2022, especially during peacetime. Americans are now dealing with the consequences of reckless government spending after being told that it was the only way to make it through the pandemic. Those stimulus checks do not seem so significant anymore. The Biden administration and Democrats in Washington continue to dole out the cash before midterms, as the United States is now in a technical recession. Their level of fiscal responsibility is not only leaving people feeling pessimistic about the nation’s economic future, but they’re also seeing the impact in their own households.
Food banks and other charities are crucial to the survival of a nation’s people during tumultuous times, and they require support from the public in order to keep functioning. Conservatives should be the first to understand this, as the alternative is leaving the government more reasons to expand social services and increase taxes.
The greatest country on Earth should not be having an increasing number of people needing a food bank, and it might only continue to get worse. There’s no shame in needing help, especially if you’re someone who’s been doing everything “right” to be a good steward of your finances. And those who feel that they are in a position to give should consider doing so.
Although it might not seem like it, America will get through this tough period, as this too shall pass. Families in Arizona and around the country are becoming unfortunate victims of circumstance, and all it takes is a little bit of kindness to help them get through.
