AUDUBON, N.J. - A local food pantry is feeling the impact of higher food prices as donations for those in need have dipped as people struggle to put food on their own tables. "Two weeks ago we hit critical where I mean these shelves were almost completely bare," President of the Audubon Peer to Peer Aid Steve Radie said.
Peer to Peer relies on donations from the Camden County community and does not have corporate sponsorships. Still, many large organizations like the Red Cross send families to Peer to Peer in search of weeks worth of food.Radie said baby formula and diapers have been hard to come by recently and their pet food section is nearly empty.
Peer to Peer is always in need of staples like canned goods and non-perishable items. While skyrocketing gas prices have stolen the headlines, food prices have also been steadily climbing.
From January to February, nearly every category of goods and services got pricier. Grocery costs jumped 1.4%, the sharpest one-month increase since 1990, other than during a pandemic-induced price surge two years ago.