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Illinois food banks brace for surge in demand as pandemic-era benefits expire
Millions of people will lose their pandemic-era food stamp benefits Wednesday and food banks that are already stretched thin are bracing for the surge in demand.
CHICAGO - Nearly 30 million Americans are more food insecure as of Wednesday, because the pandemic-era emergency increases in the SNAP program have now ended.
This is happening at a bad time with all the recent food inflation.
The Northern Illinois Food Bank has been preparing for an increase in demand.
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"Right now, we are seeing more people than ever come to the charitable food system requesting some help. An inflationary period, right on the heels of a pandemic — it's making it really tough for our families," said Julie Yurko, President and CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank.
A study out of the Urban Institute found that the temporary increase in SNAP benefits kept millions of Americans out of poverty, and reduced child poverty by more than 21 percent.