MORGANTON, N.C. — Some Morganton families spent the night in a parking lot waiting more than 12 hours at a food pantry Tuesday.
The families said the skyrocketing prices at the grocery stores have made it difficult for them to afford food.
The Outreach Center works closely with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina to provide food for hundreds of families in the area every week.
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Channel 9′s Dave Faherty saw nearly three dozen volunteers, including students from North Liberty School, loading cars for people in need across the foothills.
“Tons and tons of families because some people come through and they’re picking up for a grandparent or an elderly neighbor. So, some cars are picking up for three families,” said volunteer Kim Michaels.
Many of the people said they arrived by 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, but there were a number of families who slept in their vehicles overnight hoping to get food. Faherty said some of them talked about the challenges right now of affording food with prices rising because of inflation, and also food shortages.
“When you go and get eggs, they’re so expensive you can’t afford anything. Everything is so expensive right now,” resident Tonya Goldner said.
The Outreach Center said they, too, have seen a greater need, with higher prices at the food store and at the pumps. They have been having a hard time getting any meat, but that didn’t keep dozens of families from showing up.
“If it wasn’t for getting food at the food banks and out here, we wouldn’t have any,” customer Cheryl Rich said.
Betty Crump said her grocery bill has nearly doubled over the last year forcing her and others to join the long line of cars. She and her friends waited more than five hours for food Tuesday, but said the program is vital for families on a fixed income.
“There are things that I get here that I would never be able to buy and stuff,” Crump said.
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President Biden announces his plan to lower costs for American families as prices hit all-time high
The challenges for families in Morganton are being echoed nationwide.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden blamed the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine as two main causes for rising costs.
He unveiled his plan to lower energy costs, saying he wants to extend the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the reserves for the next six months. He’s also calling on congress to pass clean energy and vehicle tax credits, as well as advancing the strongest-ever fuel economy standards for cars and trucks.
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Biden also went on the attack against Republicans.
“Republicans have offered plenty of blame but not a single solution to actually bring down the energy prices,” he said.
Meanwhile, Republicans are pointing the finger at the Biden Administration and Democrats in congress.
“Democrats’ policies have unleashed the worst inflation in more than 40 years,” Sen. Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor Tuesday.
The Biden Administration is also pointing to the recent jobs report as an indication of positive signs. The report said 428,000 new jobs were created in April and more than 400,000 jobs have been generated for 12 straight months.
(WATCH BELOW: Utility bills in SC could soon increase due to inflation, shortages)
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