06/04/2026
Inflation Keeps Fueling Food Insecurity
Every day SFB-CRC volunteers sort produce, prepare deliveries, stock shelves, and welcome neighbors who need assistance putting food on the table, but with surging prices at the store come increasing numbers of people seeking our help.
Food insecurity has always been a challenge here in Southern Arizona, but in recent years families, seniors, and children are under much greater pressure across our region. The numbers don’t lie. They tell us that rising costs and economic uncertainty have left many households struggling to afford the most basic necessities. Nationally, nearly one in five households with children experiences food insecurity. In Pima County, child food insecurity rates remain almost 5 percent higher than that. Alarmingly, there are more food-insecure children in our county than the total student population of the county’s largest school district.
January brought us the largest number of food bank visitors in two years, and though numbers have decreased since then, we are still ahead of 2025 first quarter counts. We are sadly witnessing higher numbers of seniors seeking assistance than ever before. Many live on fixed incomes that simply will no longer stretch far enough. Some humbly and quietly relate to us that they skip meals so they can pay for medications or utilities. Others tell us simply and pointedly—"I’m hungry.”
Our Marana sister organization now distributes 350 food boxes every month to seniors 60+ who are living below 130% of the federal poverty level. Each box contains nearly 40 pounds of food, including government cheese and other essentials. Meanwhile, the Sahuarita Food Bank delivers food to some additional homebound participants who cannot travel to receive assistance.
Food insecurity is closely connected to poverty, unstable housing, and limited access to grocery stores—especially in rural communities and food deserts where fresh, nutritious food may be many miles away. Studies have forewarned for years that food insecurity contributes to increasing rates of diet-related illness throughout the state. Unfortunately, the Department of Agriculture predicted in 2017 that by 2030 a half million Americans will suffer from them.
Food banks have certainly shaped a vital safety net. Nationally, Feeding America works with the USDA and corporate partners to supply shelf-stable food, and the Department of Economic Security in Arizona manages the flow to regional food banks. In Pima County and four others, the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona contracts with local food banks to store and distribute resources. Faith organizations, schools, nonprofits, businesses, and individuals contribute by organizing food drives, fundraising campaigns, and other volunteer efforts throughout the year. U of A operates a food pantry, as many universities do, to support students facing hunger.
Our weekend nutrition backpack program is another example of our efforts to try to meet food insecurity challenges. In a 38-week school year, 680 students in 11 local schools receive backpacks filled with nutritious food to help sustain them over weekends when school meals are unavailable.
SFB-CRC’s mission is also to build community through health and nutrition, family support, and workforce development, including English and computer classes, vocational training, and welding and IT support certification, and support from our Pima County Resource Navigator. We equip people with the skills, education, and connections they need to build long term stability and reduce their reliance on food assistance.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, volunteers, and community partners, families in Sahuarita, Marana, and surrounding communities can visit our food banks twice each month, though many other food banks can only offer one visit. We are proud to continue to be the only food bank in our region open every Saturday, ensuring working families can access food when weekday schedules make visits difficult.
With cuts in SNAP, rising prices for fuel, groceries, housing, health care, childcare, and utilities, the food insecurity challenge will continue, as need keeps outpacing resources. In most areas of life, growth is considered a positive thing, but this growth in the number of hungry people is not. Feeding America estimates it would take more than $105 million annually to eliminate food insecurity across Pima County.
Of course, behind all these statistics are real people, our neighbors.
Compassion, generosity, and community support do give us hope. Every donated can of food, every volunteer hour, and every financial contribution—no matter the size—help ensure that a child has breakfast, a senior has dinner, and a family has one less impossible choice to make, so we extend our deepest gratitude for all you do to help us meet this mounting challenge together.
