PHOENIX — Fuel prices are taking food off the table at one of Arizona’s largest food banks.
St. Mary’s Food Bank says record-high diesel prices are adding about $150,000 a month to its costs, money that would otherwise pay for roughly 750,000 meals, President and CEO Milt Liu told KJZZ.
When delivery costs more than the food
St. Mary’s moves about 300,000 pounds of food a day. Most of it is donated, but the food bank still buys supplemental items, and diesel hits it twice: in running its own distribution and in what it pays to have purchased food hauled in.
Liu offered one example. About two weeks ago, he said, St. Mary’s was buying apples from Washington state, and in the span of three days the quote to deliver the truckload rose from $3,000 to $5,000. By his account, getting the apples to Phoenix ended up costing more than the apples.
For now the food bank is covering the higher costs from savings, Liu said, which he warned will not work over the long term, especially with the holiday season approaching. He told KJZZ that fuel costs are the most consistent problem across the more than 200 food banks in the Feeding America network.
Why it matters in Arizona
St. Mary’s, founded in Phoenix in 1967, is known as the world’s first food bank, and it supplies a large network of pantries and partner agencies across the state. When its costs rise, the squeeze can reach families well beyond the Valley.
The timing is tough. Food banks typically see demand climb from Thanksgiving through the new year, the same stretch when the organization will be stretching reserves to absorb fuel costs.
How to help
Food banks generally say cash donations go furthest, because they can buy food at wholesale and cover expenses like fuel that donated goods cannot. St. Mary’s lists ways to donate, volunteer and find food assistance on its website, firstfoodbank.org. Arizonans who need help can also call 211 to find nearby pantries.
Photo: Guylaen via Wikimedia Commons (CC0 public domain). Generic file photo of a food bank truck in California; not a St. Mary’s Food Bank vehicle.