In Kansas City, Missouri, a significant change has been witnessed over the past five years. Just about every aspect of life has seen a price hike, and groceries are no exception. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the cost of a Thanksgiving meal has surged by a remarkable 20% during this period. This upward trend has put a strain on families during the holiday season.Helping Families During Thanksgiving
To provide some relief to families facing the burden of higher grocery costs, Jackson County Public Health (JCPH) took a proactive step. They distributed 115 free holiday food boxes to those in need. Each box was carefully packed with an assortment of holiday side dishes such as corn, green beans, and dressing. This initiative was made possible through a partnership with Harvesters.The partnership between JCPH and Harvesters has been growing steadily for months. It all began in December 2023 when they first joined forces. Since then, JCPH has been regularly providing essential food items to families in need once a month. According to JCPH supervisor Lauren Allen, the demand for food has been increasing each month. Since the partnership started, volunteers have distributed over 15,000 pounds of food. During Thanksgiving, this act of kindness becomes an even more meaningful part of the holiday.“We understand that families often struggle with food, especially around the festive season,” said Allen. “Our goal is to alleviate some of that additional stress. If we can contribute to even just one meal for a family, it makes us happy to do so.”Volunteers work tirelessly to hand out food to families once a month at the Jackson County Public Health building located off I-470 and NE Woods Chapel Rd. For more information about their food distribution events, you can visit the provided link.This Thanksgiving food box initiative is not only a practical solution to help families but also a symbol of community support and care. It shows that even in the face of rising costs, there are those who are willing to step forward and make a difference.In conclusion, the rising cost of groceries poses a challenge, but initiatives like the Thanksgiving food box distribution by Jackson County Public Health are helping to ease the burden and bring a little more joy to families during the holiday season.
