With food pantry usage across the country rising as fast as grocery bills, local food pantries are wondering how they will be able to keep up with demand.
The United States Department of Agriculture announced on Monday more than $1 billion in cuts to key programs that helped school districts and food pantries purchase products from local farmers and ranchers. While cutting those programs did not affect them, Sandy Soik from the Lakeshore CAP Food Pantry says they have been notified of a 40 to 50 percent cut in the commodities they receive through the USDA, something she adds will have to be made up through donations.
Soik points out that traffic at the pantry has increased from approximately 4,900 people served in 2023 to more than 6,100 in 2024. Soik says that just about everything is needed now to keep their shelves full.
Lakeshore CAP Food Pantry is a part of the larger Door County Food Pantry Coalition, which supports individuals and families at nine locations throughout the peninsula.
