How ‘Eggflation’ is Affecting Food Pantries in Jackson: The Rising Cost of Eggs and Its Community Impact

In Jackson, food pantries are looking at rising egg prices and their effects on the help they provide. However, many pantry managers report that these price hikes haven’t caused any issues for them so far. They mention that while they have seen an increase in overall applications for food assistance, the supply of eggs has remained steady.

I recently visited a few food pantries in the Jackson area to learn more. My first stop was the Salvation Army Food Pantry. There, I spoke with Pantry Assistant Henry Ambs about the current egg situation.

A new law in Michigan requires that eggs sold in the state must be cage-free, meaning the hens were not kept in cages. As prices rise, Ambs noted that the pantry typically receives egg donations inconsistently. “It’s hit and miss,” he said. “Some days we might get a whole bunch, and other days just one or two dozen.” This means that price changes might not be very noticeable for them.

At the Interfaith Shelter, Kitchen Manager Kevin Smith echoed similar sentiments. He stated that so far, rising egg prices have not impacted their donations. “A few years ago, farmers donated less due to price changes, but right now, we have not seen any difference,” he said.

Calls to other local pantries revealed the same. They rely on donations for eggs and haven’t seen any drop in supplies. However, one noticeable trend at the Salvation Army is the increase in food assistance applications. Ambs shared that they used to receive 15 to 25 applications a day, but that number has now jumped to about 40.

Overall, while egg prices are a concern many are talking about, for Jackson’s food pantries, the focus has shifted to meeting the rising demand for food assistance in the community.

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