September is National Hunger Action Month, and there has never been a more critical time to advocate for the persons across the nation and within the Cassville community who are struggling with the issue of food insecurity.
Over the last 12 months, grocery prices have soared 13.1 percent, which is the largest annual increase since the spring of 1979, according to an August 2022 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The prices of nearly every grocery item have escalated over the past year alongside shortages of basic food items made scarce by vendor supply chain challenges.
The impact of inflation in many areas, including food, energy, and gasoline, has placed a target of extra hardship upon low income retirees and the disabled community. A total of 21.7 percent of Barry County residents are seniors ages 65 years old and older, and 10.7 percent of the county population are disabled persons under the age of 65. Roughly one out of three persons are strapped to a fixed income while facing inflated expenses and a large reduction in household spending capability.
“Rising prices have pushed this group into a struggle to survive, forced to seek out every possible way they can find to save money,” said Janet Mills, Cassville Pantry director. “Not able to afford the basics required for a healthy lifestyle, our fixed income neighbors have to ration what groceries they buy, elect out of medicine purchases, and potentially choose not to heat or cool their homes.
“Cassville Pantry is dedicated to the relief of hunger and provision of hope to those who are going without adequate amounts of healthy nutritious food. We help families dealing with anxiety and distress because they do not have enough food in their homes to go around.”
A call to Hunger Action fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $30,000 is sponsored by Cassville Pantry from Sept. 7-28. The fundraiser is critical to building the support base needed to help the hungry in the next few months and foundational for generating sponsors for the effort throughout the year ahead.
Donations to Cassville Pantry have the potential to be multiplied for each $1 dollar gift to be worth the equivalent of two dollars, thanks to the incentive of a $10,000 matching gift opportunity during the campaign. A $10,000 matching donation kicks in upon the point that donations accumulate to $10,000.
Once a level of $10,000 in donations is achieved, the matching gift will apply to the total and the previous donor gifts will be doubled in value to $20,000. All donations are tax deductible. Individuals can donate in person at Cassville Pantry, online at cassvillepantry.com, or by mailing a check USPS payable to Cassville Pantry at 800 W. 10th St. Cassville, MO 65625.
A billboard showing the progress of how the community is helping “fill the basket” will be visible in front of the Pantry building through the course of the fundraiser. For every $15 donated the equivalent of 5 days of food will be provided to the hungry. Cassville friends of the hungry could consider feeding families in need year round by sponsoring monthly at $3 per day or at any other amount.
“A small sacrifice, such as cutting out eating lunch out at a restaurant, not buying a soda, or skipping a non-essential shopping purchase could, if donated, alternatively provide sustenance to stop the threat of hunger to a struggling household,” Mills said. “Cassville Pantry asks the community to help us fill the basket for many needy homes such as the household of a recent retired senior visitor. She told our check-in volunteer, ‘I felt I had planned well for my retirement and thought I would be Ok. I never even considered the possibility that I couldn’t get by on my retirement income. Now, I honestly don’t know if I can make it. I have never been to a food pantry before. I have no way to save more money by making additional cuts in my expenses. I thought retirement would bring a season of rest, a good time to relax and enjoy life. I never anticipated it to be a time of worry and fear, just to be able to have enough food to eat.’”
Mills said Cassville Pantry works daily to lessen the fears and anxieties of those who cannot afford enough food to get by.
“Our goal is to extend love and encouragement along with healthy and nutritious food assistance to our neighbors in need,” she said. “The pantry is serving a high volume of brand new visitors. Many seem to carry in with them a sense of urgency and are feeling panic and uncertainty about what the future holds for them. About 30-40 percent of our current clients are senior adults and disabled individuals living on fixed incomes. We need the community to join together with us to consistently provide for the ever-increasing demands upon our resources.”
People may call or text Janet Mills for more information at 417-846-7871.
