The Salvation Army pantry in Port Richey is handling a much heavier flow of visitors than before, underscoring how hard skyrocketing grocery bills are hitting local households.
Instead of serving a few dozen people a day, as they did in the spring, the site recently saw 100 people arrive within hours, WFLA reported.
Here's what to know
Captain Denzell McClain, a Corps Officer with the Salvation Army, noted that the pantry typically served about 20 to 30 visitors on open days.
In late September, one three-hour stretch brought in 100 people, a spike that reflects rising food costs that are straining households across the county.
"It's hard for everybody," McClain admitted. "It's hard for working professionals, and it's hard for those who've been struggling before."
Rebecca Rosario, a pantry user, said higher prices have changed how she shops for food. She looks for sale items, clips coupons, and sometimes skips the grocery store altogether.
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"We have grandchildren as well and we try to make sure they have balanced food … It's more expensive now," she told WFLA.
More background
For Rosario's family, the issue is not only how much food they can bring home, but also whether it supports balanced meals.
That makes produce especially important for her grandchildren.
"This one [pantry] has more fruits and vegetables than any of the others and that really helps out," Rosario explained.
She said getting older has made her more attentive to her health, which makes the availability of fresh options even more critical.
Staff members say the need is showing up emotionally as well as financially.
"I've had single moms walk in and just give us hugs because we not only provided food but provided some hope for them too," said Marcia Goeddertz, an administrative assistant with Pasco's Salvation Army.
What's being done?
The pantry is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. until noon at its Pasco County location in Port Richey.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are part of what the site distributes, and Rosario said that is one of the main ways it stands out from other pantries she has used.
The organization also provides additional support at the same location, including after-school programming, rather than limiting its assistance to food pickup alone.
Community giving remains a key part of how the pantry continues to operate as demand rises. "It's a blessing that people are giving," Rosario stated.
For Rosario, the pantry's impact reaches beyond her own household.
"That's what this is all about is sharing and taking care of your neighbors as well as yourself and your family," she observed.
Where can I learn more?
Pasco County is far from alone as food pantries and banks absorb the shock of higher grocery prices and ongoing access challenges. These stories show how groups elsewhere are expanding supplies, rescuing usable food, and responding to shortages.
• In Wisconsin, a food pantry built partnerships with community gardens to keep produce flowing.
• Across the globe, food banks provided 1.7 billion meals while keeping usable food from landfills.
• In California, ExtraFood says we have the food to feed more people in need.
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