The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact certain areas of our lives, especially those who are food insecure.

Greene County Action Resource Center Manager Shirley Haupert says when the pandemic first hit in 2019, she thought there would be a huge influx of people needing to use the local food pantry, but it was quite the opposite, until this year.

“What we have noticed in the last probably four months, five months now, since about the first of June, our numbers are now starting to grow. We want from having 15-20 families a week, now we’re getting 30+ a week, so it’s almost doubled.”

Haupert points out one of the more popular food items is meat, which they get a portion from the Food Bank of Iowa, but because of the pandemic and supply chain issues, meat prices have been on the rise.

“The prices of those, like chicken, we used to be able to get that at $0.99 per pound, now we’re lucky if we can get it for $2.50 (per pound). Likewise, hamburger, if you know the price of hamburger in the store it’s no longer $2 per pound, it’s like $5 and $6 per pound. It adds up. But that’s where the donations come in to offset that.”

Haupert says they will accept any type of food donations and the ARC is open Wednesdays from 9-11:30am. However, she adds that they will accept donations at anytime by contacting herself at 515-391-1025 or Greene County New Opportunities Coordinator Teresa Lansman at 515-386-2517.