Central Illinoisans turning to food pantries for help during record inflation

Posted on August 11, 2022
Tammy Bishop, President of the Mackinaw Food Pantry spoke with WJBC’s Blake Haas. (Photo courtesy: Mackinaw Food Pantry/Facebook)

By Blake Haas

MACKINAW – With record inflation, central Illinoisans are turning to food pantries for relief, especially in the Village of Mackinaw.

According to Tammy Bishop, President of the Mackinaw Community Food Pantry, the turnout is more significant than ever.

“The average middle-class citizen are just – they’re struggling. The electric bill has gone up, the gas, everything’s more expensive. We’re having people come and say,’ I’ve never been to a food pantry before; I’m embarrassed. I don’t know what to do.’ But these are average middle-class people.

On Wednesday, the latest Consumer Price Index (CIP) report, measuring the nation’s inflation, showed a drop to 8.5% from 9.1%.

“Our pantry clients are coming. We used to do about maybe six every time; we did 35 our last pickup,” added Bishop.

The Community Center Food Pantry is available to Mackinaw and Deer Creek residents on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 5-6 p.m.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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