NAMPA, Idaho (CBS2) — Affording food as grocery prices soar is becoming harder many local families. One local food bank is trying to keep up with the growing need in our community, but is running out of space.
The Care House food bank in Nampa serves over 1,000 people each week - about twice as many people compared to two years ago.
In August, they broke a record for the number of people served. Food banks across the valley are seeing more people needing help.
"We're doing everything we can, but it is in many different ways a whole different world than it was three years ago," said Neal Moore, Care House Food Bank's director.
High gas prices, more expensive groceries and housing are all creating challenges for local families.
"Every time you go to the store, you know, now a days you're coming out with three bags and it's 50, 60 bucks and you look at the bag and there's not much there," Moore said. "When you have people running out of gas in the food line, it’s concerning where we’re at.”
The food bank has been serving more families with children, especially within the last six months.
"I'm just concerned that people are having such a hard time. That's a sad part to see but I'm glad we're here for them," said Cindy Mort, a volunteer at the food bank.
Care House Partnerships' director Tony Johnson say about half of the people they serve are under 18-years-old.
"They're families that are working, and they're trying to make ends meet, but again they can't because of how everything is going up in cost," Johnson said.
There’s also more retirees on fixed incomes needing help.
"I was just out in the line with a person a minute ago, and they're talking about I'm needing a job," Moore said. "So they're having to find other ways that they can get back to work at almost 80-years-old because they're not able to sustain life."
Moore says they’re seeing up to 75 new faces each week.
"We really feel that's a sign of what's to come when we see so many new people having to access food banks," Moore said. "We wish we didn't have to have a food bank and everybody was just doing great."
Johnson expects even more need in the coming years especially if unemployment rises.
"Those most likely to become unemployed, are the workforce population, are the people that are struggling right now," Johnson said.
The approximately 500-square-foot area they're using to store and distribute food isn't nearly enough now for the food or volunteers.
"Our volunteers are literally on top of each other in the building trying to prepare the boxes, and then they're having to roll the carts across the street and dodge traffic as they go," Johnson said.
A rented semi trailer is now filling with food too. They're also using a small room inside the church across the street from the food bank for extra space.
The food bank is half way to raising its goal of $500,000 to build a 4,500-square-foot warehouse to meet their needs now and into the future.
"When we build our new facility, we're going to have all of the storage. We're going to have a drive-thru for distribution of food, so it's a safe place for our people," Johnson said.
To donate for the warehouse project, you can visit Care House's website.
The goal is to break ground on the project this spring, and they're hoping it could be open by the end of next year.
The food bank is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. It's located at 1524 6th Street, Nampa, ID
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