PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Hunger and food insecurity hit alarming levels in 2020. Since then, the problem hasn’t dissipated, so the Food Bank of South Jersey is preparing for another spike in need.
President and CEO Fred Wasiak said the organization served more than 18 million meals in 2020 — 45% more than the year before. This year, the demand is about 25% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
With certain benefits ending and moratoriums changing state to state, he anticipates demand will grow.
“Knowing that the stimulus, the benefits for unemployment … the moratoriums on rent, electricity — that has all come to a head,” Wasiak said. “We’ve been preparing and we’ve been stockpiling and doing our effort to be ready for what we’re calling a tidal wave.”
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Wasiak is not sure how large that tidal wave will be, but he believes it will increase in the coming weeks and months as the weather gets colder and finances get tighter.
“We think life could change for a lot of people because these programs have gone away. So we have to prepare for the possibility of greater need.”
For the full conversation about food insecurity in Philadelphia and South Jersey, listen to the latest episode of the KYW Newsradio In Depth podcast.