08/08/2026
☑️July’s Hunger Count:
The July 2026 Hunger Count offers a record of food distributed and it provides a window into the economic conditions facing many people in our community. Because the Hinton Food Bank held four services this July, compared with five in July 2025, weekly averages offer the most meaningful year-over-year comparison. Average household visits increased from 87 to 106 per week, a rise of approximately 22%, while the average number of people served increased from 192 to 218. New clients also doubled, from an average of three to six each week.
The composition of this growth is important. The average number of children served remained relatively stable, while the number of adults increased from 139 to 166 per week. These figures indicate increasing pressure among single adults, seniors, people living with disabilities, and workers whose incomes are no longer sufficient to meet the cost of basic necessities. Food insecurity is not limited to one demographic; it increasingly crosses household types, employment statuses, and stages of life.
The frequency of visits tells an equally significant story. Approximately 193 households accessed the Hinton Food Bank for regular service during July, generating 425 household visits. Of those households, 122 (about 63%) needed support more than once during the month. Seventy-five households attended three or four times, including 35 households that required assistance every week. This suggests that the Food Bank is not simply responding to isolated emergencies. It is increasingly addressing a persistent and recurring gap between household income and the cost of food.
The final service of July was particularly notable. On July 28, the Food Bank served 114 households and 229 people, while welcoming 13 new clients; more than half of all new clients recorded during the month. One month of data cannot establish the cause of this increase, but the pattern may reflect the financial pressure that intensifies near the end of the month, after rent, utilities, transportation, medication, and other fixed expenses have been paid. It also demonstrates how quickly demand can change and why reliable food supplies, adequate facilities, committed volunteers, and sustainable funding are essential.
Ultimately, these numbers tell us that Hinton is not insulated from broader economic insecurity. Food bank use should be interpreted an indicator that wages, benefits, pensions, and other sources of income are not keeping pace with the cost of living.
Thank you to every donor, volunteer, community partner, and supporter helping the Hinton Food Bank respond with honesty, respect and dignity. 💙💛
