Enquirer: Food banks struggle with added costs, less donations
UC economist says anxiety about money, uneven financial recovery have contributed to strain
Food banks across the United States are facing challenges, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported, which a University of Cincinnati economist said is in part a result of higher food prices and uncertainty about the future.
The Enquirer reported that the Freestore Foodbank, which distributes food through its food pantries along with neighborhood food pantries and congregate eating locations in the Cincinnati region, is facing a budget crunch. Donations have dropped, and food prices have increased in recent years, resulting in a $3.5 million deficit to end this fiscal year.
While the economy has improved since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have remained anxious about spending, said Dipanjan Chatterjee, an adjunct instructor in the Carl H. Lindner College of Business’ economics department, a Kautz-Uible Economics Institute fellow and a vice president at Forrester, a research and advisory company.
“The average person has higher income from their occupations and greater wealth from their assets,” Chatterjee said, but added, “Consumer sentiment is wallowing in the depths of despair.”
Chatterjee also said the economic recovery didn’t benefit everyone equally. Those whose finances didn’t recover are more likely to need food assistance.
Featured image at top: A person prepares bags of food at a food pantry. Photo/Aaron Doucett via Unsplash
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
Recent advances may speed time to endometriosis diagnosis
March 16, 2026
The average time to clinical diagnosis of endometriosis is nine years. Definitive diagnosis of the disease is difficult, and until recently, has relied on laparoscopic surgery. Now, as Medscape recently reported, novel clinical recommendations, advanced diagnostic tools and research into inflammation and immune responses, are bringing promise that women with endometriosis will find relief sooner and without surgery, according to experts, including Katie Burns, PhD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine associate professor.
Position-specific helmets may not improve protection
March 16, 2026
Local 12 highlighted a new study by biomedical engineering researchers that looked at how well new football helmets protected players from impacts that can cause concussions.
UC biologist talks about 'pearmageddon'
March 16, 2026
WLWT talks to UC biologist and Department Head Theresa Culley about invasive, nonnative Callery pear trees that are spreading across Ohio forests after they were introduced by landscapers more than 50 years ago.