Food Bank Demand Hits Historic Highs in Battleground States as Economic Crisis Worsens

“It’s a Hunger Crisis” 

From rural Michigan to mid-sized towns in Pennsylvania, and even the suburbs of Wisconsin, food banks across key battlegrounds are experiencing an unprecedented surge in demand as the cost of living continues to Skyrocket under Kamala Harris. 

📺WATCH: Historic Reliance on Food Banks in Key Battleground States📺 

Read More: NBC News: In key swing states, the lines at food banks are growing longer

“Across the rural communities and industrial towns of western Michigan, semitrucks hauling thousands of pounds of food are pulling up to church parking lots and community centers where growing lines of people are waiting for a few boxes of free groceries.”

“One truck can carry enough food for up to 600 households, but some days even that isn’t enough to meet the demand, which has gone up by 18% over the past 12 months, said Ken Estelle, president of Feeding America West Michigan.” 

“We have never seen this level of need in the 43 years we have been serving this community. It is significantly higher than during Covid and has pressed us beyond our capacity,” said Estelle.” 

“... many households continue to struggle with escalating costs that have depleted their savings and increased credit card debt, leaving little money left over at the end of the month to put food on the table, food bank directors said.”

“Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — critical states in the upcoming presidential election — have become the focus of campaign efforts by former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, who are both seeking to address voters’ economic concerns.”

“ A pound of ground beef costs 42% more than it did four years ago, a gallon of milk is up 17%, and a loaf of bread is 32% higher. In areas where prices have begun to decline, like rent and gas, costs still exceed pre-pandemic levels.”

“In central Pennsylvania, where Arthur said his food banks are serving as many as 275,000 individuals a month, housing costs have become a major pressure point on household budgets.”

“In Lancaster County, rents for a one-bedroom apartment have risen nearly $300 since 2020 to over $1,300, while in Dauphin County, which includes Harrisburg, they’ve increased by over $200 to $1,275, according to apartment rental website Zumper. At those prices, someone making $20 an hour, working 40-hour weeks with no time off, would have to spend more than 30% of their income on rent.”