Food insecurity continues to grow across Kansas City area

Food insecurity continues to grow across Kansas City area

WITH KIDS NOT GETTINGMEALS FROM SCHOOL...AND PEOPLE STRUGGLINGTO PAY BILLS...THERE IS A GREAT NEED INTHE KANSAS CITY METRORIGHT NOW.AND HARVESTERS ISTRYING TO FILL IT...BUT AS GABRIELLA PAGANREPORTS... SOMECOMMUNITIES ARESUFFERING MORE TO GETFOOD ON THE TABLE.LONG BEFORE THE NEWBETHEL MOBILE FOODBANK OPENS, HUNDREDSWILL LINE UP IN ADVANCE.Broderick Crawford/Organizer"The need is so great I meanwe're averaging over 175 to200 cars""It's a scary thing, you know?"Biles"Wyandotte county was one ofthe highest food insecurecounties in our service areapreviously, so of course justadding a pandemicwouldindicate that food insecuritywould be even greater in thatcounty now as well."BILES SAYS THE FOODSUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE ISFOR THE MOST PARTBOUNCING BACK - THANKSIN PART TO THE FEDERALCORONAVIRUS FOODASSISTANCE PROGRAM"the program was developedto help farmers and foindustry people who hadpreviously suppliedrestaurants and schools anddidn't have that avenue tosupply food too."IT'S ALREADY BROUGHT INROUGHLY 2 MILLIONPOUNDS OF FOOD INTOTHE METRO AREA BUT THEWORK IS FAR FROVER...Biles" The need is not going to endtomorrow in fact it could getworstwe know many schools arenot going back in personwhich means they are notgoing to get those breakfastand lunches."SINCE THE PANDEMICBEGAN IN MARCH -HARVESTERSDISTRIBUTED 5 MILLIONMORE POUNDS OF FOODCOMPARED TO THIS SAMETIME LAST YEAR." it's kind of hard you knowthat's why we're out herebecause we don't, there's notenough money and we justdon't have anything oranybody to try to help, weneed to help.

We appreciatethe help."IF YOU WANT TO HELP?YOU CAN DO THESE THREETHINGS;1 - DONATE NONPERISHABLE FOOD IN THEBARRELS CALLED NOSCHOOL NO LUNCH2 - YOU CAN ALSO GIVEYOUR TIME..."We can't take a lot ofvolunteers right now so everysingle one we can take weneed."AND 3 - DONATE MONEY -FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOUGIVE, THREE MEALS AREPROVIDED, AND COULDEND UP AT A LOCALPANTRY LIKE NEWBETHEL'SGABRIELLA PAGAN,