Since the ongoing conflict in Iran began a few weeks ago, the average cost of a gallon of gas has increased by about 40 cents, according to AAA. Diesel has gone up by about 66 cents.
The cost of gas affects many other costs in the American economy, including the cost of transporting goods such as food.
Food pantries often include a mobile component that delivers food to those in the community who can’t reach them. With the increased price of fuel, MinistryWatch reached out to Christian food pantry ministries to see how rising costs are affecting them.
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Robert Gager, CEO of Shepherd’s Heart food pantry in Waco, Texas, told MinistryWatch the ministry has seen its costs increase, not just for fuel but also for food packaging supplies.
The ministry is still able to meet the continuing needs of the community, he said, even though its donations have “fluctuated a bit.”
“As a faith based nonprofit we do not have any government support. As long as we can keep going forward, God is faithful through our donors to keep us moving in the right direction,” he told MinistryWatch.
Gager said last year was the largest in the ministry’s history, serving 133,544 families. The ministry is on track to serve a similar number this year. This small faith-based food pantry in central Texas has a very small staff, and is only able to serve its community through the help of many volunteers.
The ministry makes 18 mobile food pantry distributions each month at churches, schools and medical centers.
Increase in requests
The ministry often sees a “dip in food requests at the early part of the year because many of the neighbors we serve have extra money … from their income tax returns,” Gager said. But Shepherd’s Heart is now seeing an increase in requests, due at least in part to increased gas prices eating up more of each family’s budget.
Bethesda Mission in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, told MinistryWatch gas prices are affecting its ministry, mostly in its ability to pick up donations and take men to their medical appointments.
The mission runs a mobile ministry on Friday and Saturday evenings where it takes supplies like food, water bottles and clothing to the “chronically homeless.”
Bill Christian, the director of the men’s mission at Bethesda, said the increased fuel costs have not impacted their ability to carry out the mobile ministry. He also said they haven’t yet had to adjust their picking up of food donations.
Unlike Shepherd’s Heart, Christian said Bethesda hasn’t really seen an increase in the number of people seeking assistance from its food pantry. It partners with about 200 churches and other agencies to distribute over 1,500 bags of food to those in need each month.
Christian couldn’t provide exact numbers, but said that with the number of frequent trips taken by the ministry, he acknowledges gas prices have increased its budgetary needs.
He isn’t aware of any specific request by the ministry for donations to cover fuel costs, but he said any donation to help with gas expenses will “benefit those we serve.”
$80 fill-up costs
April Jacek, the director of operations with Sunrise Christian Food Ministry in Citrus Heights, California, told Christianity Today the ministry receives many donations from stores like Costco, Sam’s Club and other retailers. However, the ministry has to go pick up those donations and a gas tank fill-up costs about $80.
“We can’t charge the stores to recover the food and haul it away,” Jacek said. “They’re getting a tax write-off. So it’s a win-win on their side, but we have costs.”
Sunrise has decided to forego pickups from one of the farther locations and partnered with a transportation company to create a “carpool situation” for some pickups.
Jacek is trusting the Lord’s provision for their ministry. “As a Christian organization, we’re no strangers to the Holy Spirit just kind of providing…We have seen an increase in donations. The hedge of protection is going to protect us from everything, including inflation.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Kim Roberts and originally published by Ministry Watch. Used with permission.
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