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Local food banks like Feeding Northeast Florida feeling impacts of supply chain issues

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s happening across the country -- bare shelves, worker shortages, shipping delays and so much more, all because of supply chain issues.

Rising prices in grocery stores are impacting food banks. Feeding Northeast Florida helps distribute food to nearly 240,000 people in need in 8 local counties, but the supply chain issues are affecting the availability of some foods they would normally receive to feed hungry families.

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“We’re still getting food, we’re still able to distribute food to people in need, but the mix of food that we’re getting is very different,” said Sarah Hall, director of strategic initiatives at Feeding Northeast Florida.

Hall said empty shelves inside grocery stores mean those everyday, common items people are used to seeing may not be available at food banks.

Instead, food banks are getting more fresh produce from places like local farms.

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Food banks throughout our area were already struggling to keep up with demand during the pandemic and now supply chain issues are leading to fewer donations and higher costs nationwide.

Shipping costs are also skyrocketing but Hall said that doesn’t mean empty tables on thanksgiving.

“We are planning to distribute turkeys this year and the price of the turkeys has gone way up, so it was almost double the amount this year to buy turkeys than it was last year,” Hall said.

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The best way to help is through monetary donations instead of buying food.

“Because so many of the stores have bare shelves. We don’t want to cause panic buying,” Hall said.

The nonprofit said with every dollar donated, it can provide up to 6 meals per family. To learn how you can help, click here.

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