Local

More local families relying on charitable food

CHELSEA, Mass. — Inflation is squeezing family budgets and sending more people out looking for help, especially with food. A survey by the Urban Institute shows a quarter of American adults don’t get enough to eat. That is up 5 percent from last year, according to the study. Locally, that means a bigger demand on food banks.

The emergency food pantry at Salvation Army Chelsea had a line of families the entire block. Esther Ortolaca is a volunteer. “It’s sad, it’s very sad because everything has gone up and you know you have to feed your babies,” said Ortolaca. Two year-old Vanessa waited in line with her family to get a healthy supply of food for the week. Families were able to get milk, rice, chicken and other essentials.

Jeffrey Bailey is the Director of Divisional Social Services for The Salvation Army. He says the inflation coupled with the end of pandemic benefits is too much for families to handle. This pantry went through more than half its food supply in the first 90 minutes. “Inflation is a bigger drive than [COVID-19] because [COVID-19] was a pandemic and knew at some point it would go away. There is no guarantee at this point that we are going to get down to more reasonable levels,” said Bailey.

We met a man in line who is retired. He says the rising costs have outpaced his fixed income “Everything is expensive,” said the man. “When I go to the supermarket or something like that it is a $100.” Major Omar Rolon runs The Salvation Army Chelsea location. “People tell me they have to decide. They pay their bills or go to the grocery store,” said Rolon. Rolon says these hard workers say they will do whatever it takes to keep these faces smiling.

Rolon says people lined up several hours before the pantry even opened because they were concerned there would not be enough to go around.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW