COVINGTON, Ky. — Food pantries in northern Kentucky have said the need for help is rising, but in-kind donations have decreased, ultimately forcing them to adjust their budgets.
At the Be Concerned Food Pantry, while the Choice Pantry program shelves were stocked, their supplemental donated food shelves were left nearly empty.
“We tripled the amount of our in-kind budget, realizing that if that food doesn’t get donated, we have to be able to buy it,” said Andy Brunsman, longtime executive director. “That has increased our budget in 2025 to $3.1 million.”
Food donations from the community allow pantries and shelters to provide extra food to families who may need access to emergency groceries. Brunsman said, however, donations are becoming fewer as production decreases.
“Companies do want to minimize shrink, just like any business does; you don’t want to overproduce if it’s just going to be a money loss,” Brunsman said. “But from our end, when we start to see that product trickle down, it’s a lot of question what do we do here at the food pantry when the supplemental program runs out of its food supply?”
According to the 2023 Feeding America Impacts of Inflations on Charitable Food System & Food Insecurity report, food banks are now paying about 30% more for food from 2022, an increase from $0.59 to $0.77 per pound in 2023 to compensate for fewer donations.
That donation doesn’t include inflation from the last two years. Be Concerned is seeing that impact, with a rapid shift in egg costs.
“Believe it or not, we do buy our eggs wholesale from a company in Cincinnati,” he said. “Last week, we paid $6.50 per dozen. This week, I believe my warehouse director told me that they increased to $7.”
Despite the difficulties, Brunsman said they’ll continue to help as many families as they can.
“As long as you need us, we will be here to help,” Brunsman said. “We don’t always know what that looks like with quantities and amounts, but we are committed to being here, running our food assistance programs.”
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