Families in Need Struggle With Rising Food Prices

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “It makes it more difficult for struggling families to put food on their tables,’ says Skot Garrick, Spokesperson for Harvest Hope Food Bank Garrick says as food prices rise so does the need in our area. “Several times this week, as a matter of fact, several times just this morning we’ve had people coming in applying for food stamps for the very first time,” says Garrick The United States Department of Agriculture reports grocery store food items were 1.4% in March 2014 when compared to March 2013. Milk prices, rising since the end of 2013, are up at least 4.8% since last year. Egg prices have increased by 9.9% over the past year. However, fresh vegetable prices are down by 4.6% percent from March 2013 to March 2014. While fresh fruit prices are up 5% since March 2013. Back at Harvest Hope, Garrick says, the rise in costs affects their ability to purchase food. “Those families are coming to us and we want to make sure that we have the food for them. So, we’re asking the community to think about helping us out even though we know that it is a difficult time to do so,” says Garrick He says this time of year is when they need the help the most. “Think about a child who thinks of summer not as a time of vacation but a time of hunger and pain,” says Garrick