With inflation continuing to skyrocket, nutritious meals made with quality ingredients can quickly become financially out of reach. In 2022, food prices increased by 9.9%. This year, they are estimated to increase another 6.2% (USDA, Summary Findings: Food Price Outlook, 2023). After paying for household necessities, it is not uncommon for someone to find themselves without the necessary resources to buy and prepare healthy meals.
Earlier this year, HCO began working to support people who are in need (and meet the eligibility requirements) through our on-site food bank. Children and adults with developmental disabilities are often living at (or below) the poverty level. Things like medication, clothing, and housing are often a struggle – so is access to healthy, nutritious food. In addition, as costs continue to rise, college students and single parents can find themselves working multiple jobs in order to address their family’s nutritional needs.
Thanks to partnerships with Channel One and HCO’s charitable donors, we can do our part to address food insecurity. As a result of our community’s generous support, we are in the process of expanding our food bank to include cold storage items, providing even more options for those in need.
Our work centers around caring for the whole person, and that includes basic needs.
We are so excited to continue to move this initiative forward – stay tuned for more updates in the future!
