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Holiday Hunger 2022: Families spend 20% more this year due to record inflation

Nov 30, 2022

Holiday Hunger 2022: Families spend 20% more this year due to record inflation

This holiday season, families are making grocery lists and preparing their tables. However, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the holidays will be more expensive for families in Virginia and across the country with the cost of meals up 20% this year due to inflation.

The holiday season only exacerbates the hunger thousands of Virginia families experience every day of the year, and this year’s record inflation is making it even more difficult for food-insecure families to feed their children.

All kids deserve to have the food they need to fuel their dreams and thrive. If you or someone you know is struggling to make ends meet, consider these year-round opportunities for nutrition support:

  • School meals are a free or affordable way for families to stretch budgets and ensure their children are nourished. Families can contact the school nutrition department to learn more about their school division’s meal prices, and make sure they have a school meals application on file. Some schools offer free afterschool meals or snacks, in addition to breakfast and lunch. 
  • The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly grocery benefits. Families can use Virginia Poverty Law Center’s SNAP eligibility calculator to determine eligibility for SNAP benefits and if so, how much they could potentially receive. 
  • Food banks and pantries are vital community resources that help households put healthy food on the table all year round. Families can reach out to their local food bank to see about resources during the holiday season.
  • The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides food, education and support for women who are pregnant or postpartum, caregivers, infants, and children up to age 5. Families can use the USDA’s WIC PreScreening Tool to check if they are eligible for benefits.

 

No Kid Hungry is committed to ensuring children in your community have access to three nutritious meals, 365 days a year. To support our work, consider making a contribution to No Kid Hungry.