Food Insecurity and the Struggle of Working Families

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As we reflect on the teachings of Christ and the call to serve those in need, the reality of food insecurity in America becomes more urgent. Families, even those who are employed, are struggling to make ends meet, as inflation continues to rise. According to Emily Engelhard, vice president of research at Feeding America, “This is a new era of food insecurity. This isn’t an unemployment issue.” The challenge is not only affecting the unemployed but increasingly those who have jobs but are unable to meet the rising costs of living.

In Loudoun County, Virginia, Kersstin Eshak and her family are just one example of the many working households that rely on food pantries. Her husband works at a big box retailer, and she is a substitute teacher. Despite their incomes, the rising prices—up nearly 23% over the past five years—often stretch their budget too thin. “Everyone sees prices getting high — for food, clothes, everything,” Eshak said during an interview at a Catholic Charities food pantry. The assistance from food banks like these allows families to make other essential purchases, such as clothing for their children.

The reality of food insecurity is not just about those facing job loss or financial instability; it is a broader issue of rising costs that affect many in middle-income brackets. In the Capital Area, which includes Washington, D.C., food insecurity has increased most sharply in households earning between $100,000-$150,000 annually, according to research by the Capital Area Food Bank. This is a concerning trend, especially as inflation continues to drive up food prices. Grocery prices alone have climbed nearly 28% in the past five years, mirroring the steepest increases since the pandemic began.

The economic challenges that working families face are largely the result of inflation, which has been exacerbated by policies enacted during the pandemic. To mitigate the economic fallout of COVID-19, the U.S. government passed nearly $5 trillion in stimulus measures. This financial support helped maintain employment levels and kept many businesses afloat. However, the recovery also led to a sharp surge in demand that outpaced the economy’s ability to supply goods and services, causing inflation. According to Harvard University economists Karen Dynan and Douglas Elmendorf, “booming demand ‘significantly exceeded the economy’s ability to supply goods and services between mid-2021 and mid-2022,’ causing an inflation surge.” As a result, prices for everyday essentials, especially food, have skyrocketed.

This ongoing inflation has made it difficult for many American families to meet their basic needs. While the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates in an effort to control inflation, these actions have had mixed results. As Andrew Levin, a Dartmouth College professor and former special adviser to the Federal Reserve, said, “The Fed failed to carry out its mandate of fostering price stability.” Even though inflation has decreased slightly, consumer prices are still up by 2.9% from a year ago, which continues to erode the purchasing power of families across the country.

For Catholic Christians, this crisis calls us to reflect on our role in supporting our neighbors and advocating for policies that protect the most vulnerable. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “the preferential option for the poor… is an essential element of Christian teaching” (CCC 2448). This preferential option is not just a moral ideal but a call to action. As food banks like the Flagstaff Family Food Center and Capital Area Food Bank face rising demand, it is clear that the need for charitable giving and systemic change is urgent. The Flagstaff center, for instance, is now serving more than 40,000 meals per month, a stark increase from the 127,000 meals it provided in 2015. “We expected things to slow down,” said Ethan Amos, the food bank’s president, “It never did.”

The rising need for food assistance is a reminder of the importance of our stewardship. In this time of crisis, Catholics are called not only to help those in immediate need but also to advocate for policies that address the root causes of food insecurity. The Federal Reserve’s balancing act between combating inflation and fostering job growth is a difficult one. As Claudia Sahm, former Federal Reserve specialist on household finances, said, “The one reasonable tool we have to get past [the cost-of-living crisis] is a bigger paycheck.”

We must also remember that food insecurity does not only affect those with lower incomes but is increasingly impacting middle-income families as well. As Radha Muthiah, CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank, said, “Increasingly, those who are food insecure are middle income and more highly educated. We don’t suffer from people not being employed.” This broadening scope of food insecurity challenges us to rethink how we can best support those in need, whether through charitable contributions, volunteer work, or advocacy for fair wages and economic policies that ensure all people have access to the basic necessities of life.

The call to feed the hungry and care for the poor is as central to our faith today as it has ever been. As we reflect on the words of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, “For I was hungry and you gave me food” (Matthew 25:35), let us renew our commitment to those who are struggling to meet even their most basic needs.

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