TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Supply chain issues continue to hit stores across the nation. But, charities say for months they’ve also been getting less products.
Wabash Valley food banks and clothing shelters are just some of the business seeing a decrease in donations. It’s all happening as charities enter one of the busiest times of the year, holidays.
According to Assistant Agency Director with Catholic Charities of Terre Haute, Jennifer Buell, over a six month span the organization has seen a nearly 21% decrease in foods donated by its retail partners.
On top of that, there’s been a 30% decrease in product over the last year.
“We’ve done a lot of purchasing to ensure our partner agencies have food. For us that means we’ve had to spend more money on purchasing additional food to make sure we have a good selection and a good variety of food our partner agencies to able to pick up,” Buell said. “It’s a big amount.”
As the largest food bank in West Central Indiana, last year Catholic Charities helped serve near six million pounds of food throughout the counties they serve.
“Food insecurity is an issue year around. As the holiday season approaches, more people are thinking about how they can help and what they can do, that’s a great thing,” She said.
Catholic Charities will host the Share Your Thanksgiving Food Drive on November 11. That’s happening at the Meadows parking lot from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
All non-perishable items will be accepeted.
On Saturday, November 20, the organization will be distributing turkeys from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Ben Franklin Elementary School.
For stores like Goodwill, less items donated impact both the store and its employees.
According to Meredith Osburn, CEO and President of Wabash Valley Goodwill, for every dollar spent roughly 92 cents help fund employee expenses, like salary, benefits and PTO.
“Our employees are our number one, we want to value them and continue to add value to those positions. But will our budget be effected because we have to consider the supply chain issues and the ripple effect we’ve experienced?” Osburn said.
Since May, Goodwill has seen a decrease in donations including men’s clothing and hardlines, like pots, pans and glassware.
On top of dealing with less inventory, Osburn adds the store is facing a labor shortage during on the store’s busiest times.
“The cost of operating our stores get more expensive each day. It takes fuel for our donations, our insurance goes up, the cost of our lights go up and the cost to heat our building goes up, all things that can effect our budget. To consider that our shelves could become more bare due to lack of donations is a concern,” She stated.
To apply for an open position or make a donation follow the link to learn more information about Goodwill in the Wabash Valley.
Covered with Love, a nonprofit diaper bank is now dealing with new issues created by COVID-19.
With the need for diapers increasing, board member, Sandra Murphy adds the organization has seen inventory fall by 30% compared to previous years.
“It causes a lot of stress for parents because then not only are they having to deal with not being able to provide accurately for their child. We need more donations. There’s a bigger need in our community,” Murphy said. “There’s a huge need in our community and with the donations not coming in and supply not being there, we can’t meet that need.”
The organization’s biggest supply need are diapers and hygienic materials.
“We don’t want to put a parent in a position to pick either food or diapers. We don’t want parents to postpone changing diapers due to lack of supply,” Murphy added. “We need donations,”
Monetary donations are being accepted by Covered With Love. To learn more about how to help, click on this link.
