CLEVELAND — At the “Back to School Bash” event held at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s Community Resource Center, families enjoyed food trucks, music, supplies and information from local resources. Shoes and Clothes for Kids hosted the event, distributing backpacks to families with school-aged children ahead of the school year.
Proudly picking out a purple bag for kindergarten was 5-year-old Kayshawna, accompanied by her little brother Kshawn and her mother, Khaniedra Ferguson. Ferguson calls the beginning of the school year a relief when it comes to making sure her kids are getting enough to eat.
“It’s been pretty hard with them being home all day,” she said. “When they’re in school, you know they feed them breakfast and lunch.”
Ferguson realizes how important it is to make sure her kids are getting the food and nutrition they need.
“It’s very important, because you want them to be able to think while they're in school, so that's the main important thing that they get something healthy and they can think and pay attention to what they need to pay attention to in school,” she said. “It’s important if you want your child to be successful.”
It’s a message that’s echoed by fellow mom Karlie Barker, who has three school-aged children.
“As a mother you always want your children to do well in whatever they're doing, whether it’s school, a job, a sport,” she said. “So having them be the most prepared so they can put all their focus on their school work is all I think any mother wants for her children.”
But Barker, who has six children in all, similarly feels the pinch when her children are home for the summer and not receiving school-provided meals -- especially when her kids' friends come over to play.
“It definitely does put pressure on you to make sure your cabinets are stocked, you know, all throughout the month,” she said, “Versus when they're in school, you have a little seven hour reprieve from them going through the cupboards and the refrigerator."
Barker points to higher prices at the grocery store in recent years as a reason for added stress, as does mother Michelle Hudson.
“The prices -- you can’t afford nothing,” Hudson said. “You have to make things meet.”
According to the U.S.D.A., from 2019 to 2023 the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for “all-food” rose by 25%, which was more than the 19.2% increase for the all-items CPI. There was a 5% average annual bump for “food-at-home” prices from 2022 to last year.
Additionally, a poll from Intuit Credit Karma published in May revealed that of the roughly 2,000 adults polled, 80% said they felt a “notable increase” in the cost of groceries, with 28% saying they’ve sacrificed other necessities like rent or bills to pay for groceries.
Hudson said she and her children have prayed to God before, hoping for a meal.
“It’s something that you can put on your table for your family, to feed and eat,” she said. “And count your blessings that you do [have] a meal, because some of these people don't have nothing.”
When she’s in need of support, Ferguson goes to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, where she receives help with food and other items. At the food bank’s Community Resource Center, community members can pick up food at the healthy choice food market, or seek resources from partners like the Diaper Bank of Greater Cleveland or CHN Housing Partners.
“It feels good, it feels like it’s a blessing, somebody who can help you with things that you need,” Ferguson said.
“This food bank is amazing, they offer so many wraparound services that have been helpful,” said Barker.
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