Missouri food banks, donation sites see increased demand during holidays

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KFVS) - Although the price of a Thanksgiving meal is falling, thousands of Missourians are still feeling the pressure as one food bank said demand increases around the holidays.

The American Farm Bureau says the average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner this year is $58.18, but for less than half of that, you could feed 100 people. If you’re in a position to donate, the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri and Urban League both accept donations online. Just $25 is enough to fund 100 meals.

Volunteers like Barry Hibdon spent all day out in the cold in Jefferson City and Columbia collecting donations for the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri. The Food Bank serves over 100,000 Missourians every month.

“Given the fact that it’s the holidays and we celebrate with our friends and our family around the table we definitely see a higher demand,” Hibdon said.

That high demand is felt all over the state. In St. Louis, people waited eight hours to get a free Thanksgiving meal from the Urban League.

Columbia College Economics Professor Rudy Araujo says the economy is actually stabilizing to a new normal after a period of inflation.

“General impression is that they’re much more expensive, it’s just because the economy has adjusted at a higher price level,” Araujo said.

In a Wednesday report, the Federal Reserve says consumer prices increased 2.3% from last year, which is a decrease from mid-2022 when inflation was peaking around 7%. Araujo said the economy is in position for growth, but it’s too soon to tell exactly how proposed policies by newly elected politicians, like tax cuts, could affect prices.

“So we should be seeing some growth, further growth, and a little bit of prices going up again,” Araujo said.

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