Important Takeaways:
- The rising cost of living, particularly in housing and groceries, is pushing more families in Washington state to seek assistance from food banks.
- According to Robert Ojeda of Food Lifeline, the largest hunger relief organization in the state, food insecurity affects about 25% of Washingtonians, meaning one in four residents is struggling to access enough food.
- Last year, these visits totaled 8 million, resulting in the distribution of 72 million pounds of food through 300 food banks and partner organizations.
- Ojeda noted that the demand is expected to grow, with visits projected to increase from 8 million to 10 million year over year. As more families rely on food banks, Ojeda is calling on the community for support during the season of giving
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Important Takeaways:
- More than a quarter of Americans have resorted to skipping meals to avoid paying inflated grocery store prices, according to a new survey.
- According to a study by Qualtrics on behalf of Intuit Credit Karma, 80% of Americans say they have felt a “notable increase” in grocery costs in recent years. More than a quarter of respondents said the increased cost has led them to occasionally skip meals, while about one-third said they spend more than 60% of their monthly income on mandatory expenses such as food, utilities and rent.
- “Food insecurity is a major issue in this country as millions of Americans don’t have enough food to eat or don’t have access to healthy food,” Courtney Alev, a consumer financial advocate at Credit Karma, said in a statement.
- Of the Americans surveyed in the Credit Karma poll, 44% reported feeling financially unstable. This feeling is strongest among households making less than $50,000.
- The rising cost of living is also a likely factor in the increasing number of Americans taking on debt (55%).
- A large majority of consumers (80%) said they felt the most notable increases in expenses were for groceries, followed by gasoline, utilities, housing and dining out.
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Important Takeaways:
- OC food banks see rise in demand following inflation
- Despite a recent cooling of inflation, organizations in Orange County dedicated to serving the most vulnerable populations report a tremendous need.
- Two prominent nonprofits in Orange County both agreed on the demand for affordable options. They are not only witnessing an increase in the number of families seeking assistance but are also encountering new families that have never sought help before.
- In Orange County, one in every 12 people is facing food insecurity, according to reports.
- “We are seeing a lot of new families who have never had to access these services before,” said Madelynn Hirneise, CEO of Families Forward.
- Helena, an Irvine resident and mother of three, challenges stereotypes about the area’s affluence, sharing that it is becoming increasingly harder to stretch a dollar. “If you fill up the cart, that’s a lot of money, it’s like one week of pay check,” said Helena.
- The nonprofit Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, which provides food for 400,000 people a month in Orange County, has seen a nearly 60 percent increase in demand since before the pandemic.
- Items like milk, greens, and fresh fruits have become luxuries that many families can no longer afford. The struggle to maintain a decent standard of living has become a widespread concern.
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Revelations 13:16-18 “Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.”
Important Takeaways:
- As food prices rise in June, analysts warn of a ‘tipping point’ for Americans
- Grocery prices were 5.7% higher in June compared to a year ago, and dining out was 7.7% more expensive
- “Overall, there continues to be a similar narrative of extended upward pressure on food prices as we try to discern whether this stress has led to a tipping point where consumers are struggling to buy the foods that they want,” said Jayson Lusk, the head and distinguished professor of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University.
- Reported food insecurity across households of different income levels reached 17% in June, the highest level since March 2022, according to the monthly Consumer Food Insights Report from Purdue University. Although it didn’t deviate too much from the normal range — food insecurity hovered at 14% two months ago — Lusk said the increase is concerning given the amount of pressure on more financially vulnerable consumers.
- Around 47% of low-income households — those earning less than $50,000 a year — said they relied on SNAP benefits in May, up from roughly 40% in February, according to a recent Morning Consult report
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Revelations 18:23:’For the merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.’
Important Takeaways:
- Kroger Shoppers Call Out Shortages: “A Lot of Empty Shelves”
- It’s not a stretch to say that millions of shoppers rely on Kroger for their groceries and other necessities. The company currently operates roughly 2,800 stores—including some under the Ralphs, King Soopers, and Dillon’s brand names—across 35 states, making it the largest supermarket chain in the U.S. But even as a shopping mainstay, customers have begun to take to social media to air their frustration about some locations’ lack of items. Read on to learn more about the shortages reported by Kroger shoppers
- In a YouTube video posted on Dec. 31, user AdventuresWithDanno took viewers on a walk-through of his own local Kroger store to document what was available for purchase and take note of any changes.
- “We are at Kroger, and are noticing price increases on groceries, and a lot of empty shelves!”
- “Just paid $5.49 for a dozen Kroger large [eggs]. Several days ago the same egg section was totally empty,” one user wrote in a tweet on Dec. 31
- On Dec. 25, one user posted four photos of almost completely bare shelves in one Ohio location’s meat, produce, and frozen food sections, asking “where did all the food go @Kroger?”
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Revelations 18:23:’For the merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.’
Important Takeaways:
- Heat or Eat? Natural Gas Prices Set to Skyrocket This Winter on Biden’s Watch
- In a bombshell Nov. 9 report that the mainstream media has virtually ignored, data from Biden’s U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicated that it predicts the price of natural gas prices will skyrocket during the upcoming winter season. Prices are expected to hit at least 10-12-year highs, and that’s based on normal winter conditions.
- Some long-term forecasts strongly suggest that the upcoming winter season will be especially cold for many areas of the country, as well as higher snowfall amounts for many areas, exacerbating the looming home energy crisis.
- The first sign of relief, according to the agency, might not even come until much later in 2023, when the Freeport LNG terminal in Texas is brought back online.
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Revelations 18:23:’For the merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.’
Important Takeaways:
- Survey: Nearly 1 in 5 Americans Skipped Meals, Didn’t Buy Groceries Due to High Inflation
- Many have stopped buying healthier food options. Eighteen percent said they had skipped meals or did not buy groceries.
- Beyond facing food insecurity, the same survey also found that high inflation is forcing Americans to delay certain healthcare expenses. Fourteen percent of Americans have canceled or postponed plans to see a healthcare specialist, ten percent have delayed taking prescribed medication, and 11 percent stalled receiving a yearly physical.
- Grocery prices have climbed 13 percent from a year ago, rising 0.7 percent from August to September
- Core inflation — not including food and energy prices — is up by 6.6 percent since a year ago, the highest it has been in 40 years.
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Revelations 18:23 ‘For the merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.’
Important Takeaways:
- Grocery Store Inflation Rises to Highest Since 1979: Milk, Cereal, Chicken, Cheese, Butter, Hamburger, and Bread Prices Still Soaring
- Although gasoline prices fell in July and overall inflation cooled, U.S. households did not get any relief in the grocery store aisles.
- Breakfast cereal prices up 1.9 percent from June and 16.4 percent compared with a year ago.
- Bread prices up 2.8 percent from July and 13.7 percent compared with a year ago.
- Ground beef prices rose 0.8 percent in July and are up 9.7 percent compared with a year ago.
- Bacon prices rose 0.2 percent compared with a month ago and are up 9.2 percent compared with a year ago.
- Breakfast sausages up 2.6 percent in July and 15.7 percent over the year.
- Chicken prices rose 1.4 percent in July and 17.6 percent over the year.
- Milk prices rose 0.1 percent in July and 15.6 percent over the year.
- Cheese prices rose two percent in July and 12.6 percent over the year.
- Ice cream prices rose 0.7 percent and 11.3 percent over the year.
- Fruit and vegetable prices rose 0.5 percent in July and 9.3 percent over the year.
- Coffee prices rose 3.5 percent and are up 20.3 percent over the year.
- Butter prices rose 0.2 percent and are up 22.2 percent over the year.
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Rev 6:6 NAS “And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”
Important Takeaways:
- More Misery on the Way: Americans Can’t Afford Gas and Groceries, so Economists Say Recession Very Likely
- With inflation now at 8.6% and food prices rising the fastest in 40 years, Americans are trying to find ways to get by, and that means less spending.
- Credit card debt, which dropped during the pandemic as Americans used government stimulus checks to pay down balances, has rebounded to all-time highs.
- Almost half of the economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal say a recession is likely in the next 12 months.
- Analyst Joel Griffith at the Heritage Foundation, has been runaway government spending.
- “Look, we spent about 6 trillion dollars extra over the past two years than we normally spend, and nearly every last dollar of that was printed by the Fed to purchase government debt. That’s why we have inflation now”
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Rev 6:6 NAS “And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”
Important Takeaways:
- ‘Stock Up on Foods’: Experts, Ministers Urge People to Prepare for Global Famine
- As prices continue to rise on everything from gas to groceries, experts warn that food is going to be harder to come by in the months ahead, including in America. Some say that the church can lead the way in helping people through the tough times.
- According to Bread for the World, over 13.8 million people in the U.S. already suffer from food insecurity.
- Right now, about 65% of the 200 food banks in the Feeding America Network are seeing a greater demand for food assistance.
- The biblical story of Joseph is an example of how the church should respond to the crisis while preparing to help others.
- Spiritual preparation is also vital.
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