27-03-2025
Berea food bank working to meet increase in community demand: ‘Hunger never rests'
BEREA, Ky. (FOX 56) — Food pantries across the country are working to keep up with an increase in demand coupled with rising food costs.
Being hungry is not an option. That's what Darla Puckett with Brigham Baptist Church said when it comes to her community.
'Just to see people come through here that need food and prayers and support and just sometimes conversation,' Puckett added. 'It's just something that we don't take lightly here, and we're going to continue to do that no matter what.'
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Since COVID-19, the increase in demand has continued to climb.
'Grocery store prices haven't come down, and rents have gone up, so we see more and more people who are reaching out to us for assistance,' said Berea Food Bank executive director Tony Crachiolo. 'Berea Food Bank and the people that support it are dedicated to making sure that hunger finds no home in Berea, so we work every day to make sure that that happens.'
'I anticipate that getting worse as we fall on hard times financially in our local community,' Puckett said. 'So, there is a hunger security here and food insecurity here.'
While the need is great, meeting that need has presented a challenge for some due to a surge in costs.
The Consumer Price Index for food has grown 23.6% since 2020, which outpaces the overall inflation rate of 21.2%
'We don't get nearly as much stuff, food, and supplies as we used to like pre-COVID,' added Puckett. 'But because that just kind of hit everybody, it just trickled down, and it's just going to trickle down into the service industry and into the ministries that we do here.'
Despite the circumstances, Crachiolo said they will be there to help their community no matter what.
'Hunger never rests, hunger never sleeps, and it finds new people all the time,' Crachiolo said. 'Someone who's lost a job and is having a hard time finding one, someone whose rent is going up 25%. We need to be here with community support to make sure that any Berean who finds themselves in need of filling up a pantry and getting food for a week or so can come to the Berea Food Bank.'
And with data showing a nationwide rise in food insecurity, both said it's vital to have community support.
'We find that it requires more and more of us,' added Crachiolo. 'And, fortunately, with 30-odd volunteers and a board on top of that, we've got plenty of hands to do the work. And there is a lot of generosity of spirit in Berea, both in donors and in people who are willing to come in and do the work.'
Part of meeting the need is hosting community events like the 22nd annual Empty Bowls fundraiser.
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Berea food bank working to meet increase in community demand: 'Hunger never rests'
'One of the ways that we fund what we do is by partnering with an organization like Berea College's Celts program; the 22nd annual Empty Bowls dinner is coming up, where a handcrafted bowl and delicious soup can be had for $15, and 100% of the proceeds go to Berea Food Bank,' said Crachiolo. 'Our friends at the Berea College program have been our partners for over 30 years, helping the food bank meet the need in this city.'
The event will take place on Wednesday, April 2, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
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