2020 was a tough year. For food banks and pantries, the rapid increase in the number of people needing food assistance as COVID19 hit the United States strained their capacity to its limits…and sometimes beyond. It’s not possible to overstate the time, effort and sacrifices made by all of the people who work at these organizations. They have been part of our nation’s front line. They are heroes.
For us, the depressing increase in the number of people needing help was leavened by the growth in the number of people helping out. The number of organizations sponsoring #GiveHealthy drives grew rapidly as the pandemic unfolded. Some of these groups had a history of organizing food drives. Many were new to this type of effort and appreciative that our platform provided an easy and effective way to make it happen.
2020 was a year to strengthen our existing food bank and pantry partnerships and to form new ones. We’re appreciative to be working with terrific organizations across the country.
We expect 2021 to be better but still very challenging in terms of food insecurity. Like many, we expect the pandemic’s effect will lessen as the year goes on. And we think the number of people needing food assistance will start to subside. Even so, there will still be tens of millions of people needing help as 2021 ends. The work that food banks and pantries perform will remain critical. We look forward to working with all of the groups that will support them with #GiveHealthy food drives and help them raise lots of healthy food.
