From Kosher Today this week:

Soaring Kosher Food Prices Slam Middle Class Families
New York, NY…By Sarah Cohen… Kosher prices are rising so rapidly that many middle class consumers that rely on kosher foods are in crisis. This gloomy picture was painted by several of the nation’s Jewish anti poverty organizations. Amy Krulik, Executive Director of the Jewish Relief Agency (JRA) in Philadelphia, said ‘The JRA typically delivers food to lower income families but we have noticed that the recent increase in demand for food donations lies in the middle income families who are struggling with the higher prices in food and fuel.’ JRA delivers food baskets to some 2,459 households a month in the Philadelphia area, an increase of about 80 households over previous months. ‘The increase in prices of dairy and meat products is especially difficult for kosher families,’ said Krulik. She explained that some of the more needy consumers either go without these products or simply turn to non-kosher products which are typically cheaper than kosher products. ‘This is a serious issue in the kosher world,’ stated Krulik. The recent increase in fuel prices is also affecting the JRA from an organizational standpoint as well. Every month, the JRA depends on approximately 600 volunteers to come to their warehouse to help package food baskets. But since the surge in fuel prices, some volunteers are simply unable to afford the extra trip to the food warehouse. Krulik explained that her organization is dealing with some of these issues by looking for more opportunities to buy food at wholesale costs. ‘Every dollar counts and we have to make sure that we get the most for our money in order to deal with the increased demand for food,’ said Krulik.

Benny Wechsler, Director of the Food Pantry Program of the New York Metropolitan Coordinating Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council), explains that the dry goods delivered to approximately 13,000 families a month used to cost $7.92 (wholesale cost). Now, the same basket of food is costing the organization $10.98. William Rapfogel, the organization’s executive director and CEO, says that government spending on food donation programs has been decreasing over the last few years and therefore increased fundraising programs are crucial to helping the situation. ‘The middle income family has been greatly impacted by the higher prices of food, fuel and rent and the need for help has grown tremendously,’ said Rapfogel. In addition to providing families with dry goods, the Met Council also distributes food vouchers that are accepted in several supermarkets in the New York area, which in turn allow families to purchase kosher meat and dairy products…. .
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This is terrible news. But, then again, you didn’t need us to tell you that. Call your local Kosher food bank and make a donation. Give food, give money if you can, but give.