Food Bank Distribution Skyrockets In, Near Phoenix

PHOENIX, AZ — More and more Americans, including residents in and near Phoenix, are going hungry as the coronavirus pandemic reaches its 13-month mark. Food banks across the country have distributed more food every quarter since the pandemic began, according to data compiled by the Associated Press.

At St. Mary's Food Bank in Phoenix, the data shows a post-pandemic average of 30.1 million pounds of food distributed per quarter, compared with pre-pandemic average of 25.3 million pounds per quarter, an increase of about 19 percent. More than 28.2 million pounds were distributed in the second quarter of 2020, when the pandemic’s impact was first recorded, compared with 24.4 million in the second quarter of 2019.

Meanwhile, at Mesa's United Food bank, the data shows a pre-pandemic average of 5.8 million pounds distributed every quarter, rising to 7.2 million pounds per quarter once the pandemic was underway — increase of 24 percent. Nearly 6.8 million pounds were distributed in the second quarter of 2020, compared with 6.3 million in the second quarter of 2019.

Nationally, food distribution rose 48.6 percent during the two quarters after the pandemic began, compared with the four quarters prior to the pandemic, according to an AP analysis of 181 food banks within the Feeding America network.

Nearly all the food banks have reported higher distribution numbers amid the pandemic, with only a handful scattered across the country actually reporting distribution decreases. The AP noted, however, that food distribution data can be “extremely volatile” from quarter to quarter because of holiday schedules, donation trends and local economic issues.

Feeding America is the largest food distribution organization in the United States, but the 181 food banks included in this dataset only include “a small fraction” of the number of organizations nationwide that are helping people who suffer from food insecurity.

Still, food insecurity has become a heightened worry for millions of Americans as the pandemic continues. For those in financial difficulties, it means putting food toward the end of their list of priorities.

"This is the fourth week without a paycheck," Adriana Rosas told Feeding America in 2020 while picking up food for her family at a distribution site in New Braunfels, Texas.

"I was strategic with my last one and stretched it out as much as possible," Rosas said. "After paying for rent and electricity, it was then that I can think about groceries — it's crazy to say that groceries come last."

Comparing numbers year over year, food banks in Feeding America’s system distributed 56.5 percent more food in the third quarter of 2020 than during the same time frame in 2019.

Similar trends were reported at food banks in major cities and smaller towns across the country.

At the City Harvest food bank in New York City, one of America’s largest, the average amount distributed before the pandemic to the end of 2020 rose from about 17.1 million pounds per quarter to about 52.3 million pounds.

At the Catholic Charities food bank in the much smaller Terre Haute, Indiana, distribution rose from an average of about 973,000 pounds per quarter in 2019 to about 2.2 million at the end of 2020, a 129.8 percent increase.

The largest pre-COVID-19 to present-COVID percentage increase came at the Yuma Community Food Bank in Yuma, Arizona, where the data shows a remarkable 1,797 percent increase.

(Patch News Photo)

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2021, about 42 million Americans may not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.