How food price hikes will affect Thanksgiving celebrations

The spike in food prices caused by skyrocketing inflation will affect, among other things, the Thanksgiving holiday, which this year is celebrated on November 24.

On this day, Americans traditionally organize a lavish meal and give thanks for the blessings they receive.

Thanksgiving dinner traditionally includes turkey, and usually includes cranberry sauce, yams and pumpkin pie.

A study by the American Farm Bureau Federation found that the cost of the holiday dinner is up 20 percent from last year.

The cost of turkey alone is up 21 percent.

Some people say they are planning a more modest holiday dinner.

“I’m not going to have as much food this year. It used to be too much anyway,” says Cynthia Walsh of the Washington, D.C., suburb of Alexandria. – More importantly, my family will come together to give thanks for what we have.”

Food banks across the country are reaching out to those in need. But with shrinking donations and a huge influx of customers, they are in a tough spot.

Millions of people are turning to food banks for help.

One of them is Margarita Vicencio, who came to the U.S. from Chile six years ago.

“My husband just lost his job, and this is the first time I’ve ever gone to a food bank for help,” she said as she picked up food at Food for Others in Fairfax, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.

Annie Turner, executive director of Food for Others, told the Voice of America that high food prices have made it difficult for their nonprofit to support clients.

“Not only have we seen the cost of food go up, but our donors are donating less money, so we have to buy more food ourselves,” she said. – Meanwhile, the number of families who come here is up 60 percent from a year ago.”

In the U.S. Midwest, food service organizations in cities such as Chicago and St. Louis are also flooded with customers.

“The number of people turning to our food programs is up 42 percent over last year,” said Greg Trotter, director of marketing and communications at Nourishing Hope, a Chicago-based social service organization group. – “Our donations have not kept up with the growth in the number of people we serve, which includes many families with children.

At St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix, Arizona, the number of people seeking help continues to grow, said Jerry Brown, director of communications.

“We have twice as many people as at this time last year. In one week alone, 7,000 people came to our two main locations – that’s never happened before,” Brown said.