Central Florida food banks face higher fuel costs as demand grows

ORLANDO, Fla. — Rising fuel prices are increasing the cost of moving food to people who need it, adding pressure as demand for assistance grows.

The state average for regular gas is currently $4.29 a gallon. Those prices are affecting daily operations, especially transportation and freight costs.

“The deficit as of right now is $200,000 on the freight, the trucking,” said Anjali Vaya, Executive Director of United Against Poverty Orlando. 

United Against Poverty relies heavily on fuel to move food where it needs to go for the people it serves. As fuel prices continue to rise, transportation costs can add up quickly.

“Unfortunately for the clients, they’ve seen numerous hits starting from SNAP [cuts] to the fuel prices at the gas pumps themselves,” Vaya said.

Shipping and handling costs are normally paid by the clients. But with prices increasing, United Against Poverty Orlando is choosing not to pass that added cost on to the people it serves.