Mattie N. Dixon in Ambler
The Montco Anti-Hunger Network reported a 60% increase in food pantry visits in 2023.
According to the latest data available from 2022, more than 73,000 Montgomery County residents are facing food insecurity and thus, setting themselves up for an unhealthy, unactive lifestyle. This is a 20,000 increase over last year.
The Montco Anti-Hunger Network hopes to combat this insecurity and starvation and get more and more food items stocked in area food pantries due to an upcoming “crisis point” of increased hunger in the county, according to WHYY.
According to the network’s Mindy Bartscherer, there are really severe pockets of poverty in the county, but even the wealthiest parts of the County have residents facing hunger and insecurity.
Cindy Wedholm, executive director of Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard in Ambler, a pantry member of MAHN, told WHYY that Covid, inflation, high rent prices and reduced SNAP benefits have greatly affected food insecurity in the county. More than 60 food pantries last year saw a 60% increase in visits.
Coupled with summertime and a lack of donations over the spring-summer, Mattie N. Dixon and its fellow pantries are facing difficulties keeping shelves stocked.
Teaming alongside MAHN is the county’s Food Policy Council, created by commissioners in March to analyze food waste and how to better insecurity, per the report. The council’s leadership is being finalized and should be in effect by next month. To date, the county has provided MAHN with $1 million to buy and distribute food, per the article.
Commissioner Neil Makhija told WHYY that the council is a reaction to increased food insecurity and a proactive approach to boost food production. Soon, the county Share Food Program should have a warehouse for food collection and distribution using American Rescue Plan Act monies, per WHYY.
“The council is going to be a place for all of these people and different stakeholders to come together to talk about ideas and opportunities to collaborate,” Makhija said in the WHYY report. “So that includes farmers, nutrition educators, pantry operators, business owners, policymakers within government, and others to help us develop innovative solutions to our food system challenges.”
Read more on the crisis plan here.
