Grocery Bills Rise - Food Insecurity Increases
It’s no secret that the cost of groceries has gone up — and for many families, those higher prices mean tough choices at the checkout line. In 2025, the USDA reports that overall food prices are 3.2% higher than last year, with beef and veal costs climbing nearly 14% compared to 2024 (USDA Economic Research Service). What feels like a few extra dollars each trip to the store quickly adds up, especially for families already living paycheck to paycheck.
The result is that more households are slipping into food insecurity. Nearly 13.5% of U.S. households — about 18 million families — faced food insecurity in 2023, and early indicators suggest that number is on the rise as grocery bills continue to increase (USDA Food Security Report). For parents, this often means skipping meals themselves so their children can eat, or trading nutritious food for cheaper, less healthy options just to get by.
This reality isn’t just about empty stomachs. Hunger has a ripple effect — children who don’t get enough to eat may struggle to concentrate in school, fall behind academically, or face long-term health challenges. Families should never have to choose between paying the electric bill and putting healthy food on the table, but for many, that’s becoming the reality.
For our foundation, these rising costs make our work both more challenging and more important than ever. Each dollar doesn’t go as far as it once did, even as demand for our Birdie Bag program grows. With your support, we can continue making sure local children have the meals they need to thrive — because every child deserves to feel secure, nourished, and ready to focus on their future.
Become a Champion
Do you want to get involved in the fight against the childhood hunger in Northeast Ohio?
Get in touch with our team. We are always in need of volunteers, donors, sponsors and community partners to help us fulfill our mission of alleviating child hunger in our community.
