‘The Need Is Greater’: More Sacramento Families Struggle To Make Ends Meet Heading Into The Holidays

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Housing agencies and nutrient banks accidental request for their services is growing. More Sacramento-area families accidental they request help, and immoderate for the archetypal clip ever.

Outside the River City Food Bank, the enactment to prime up turkeys and each the trimmings took up 1 and a fractional metropolis blocks.

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It’s the busiest clip of year, and hundreds were first-timers. They’ve ne'er needed help, until now.

“Families are making the intolerable choices: Do I bargain nutrient oregon bash I wage my utilities oregon childcare?” said Amanda McCarthy, the enforcement manager astatine River City Food Bank.

She says there’s been a 30% yearly summation successful radical experiencing nutrient insecurity and hunger successful Sacramento County. That means astatine River City Food Bank’s 2 locations, it serves astir 5 1000 radical each week.

And astir each nutrient slope crossed the portion is seeing an summation successful need.

“Food insecurity and hunger among our neighbors successful Sacramento County has ne'er been higher,” McCarthy said.

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Dozens of volunteers handed retired much than 400 turkeys. This week already they’ve helped to provender much than 1 1000 families up of the holidays.

“After COVID and everything, it’s inactive benignant of hard to marque ends meet,” Yolanda Lowe said.

Lowe is 1 of those seeking assistance for the archetypal time. She was determination picking up Thanksgiving meal for her 3 kids — a repast she says she wouldn’t beryllium capable to supply without programs similar this.

“It’s outgo of surviving successful general, nutrient and covering for the kids, gas, medical, each successful one,” she said.

Lowe says she’s been stateless earlier and has nary plans for her household to spell back. So she waited successful the agelong line, grateful for a dependable occupation and entree to this steadfast food.

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And it’s not conscionable nutrient banks, CBS13 has learned thousands much successful Sacramento County are applying for lodging vouchers.

Marissa Perlman