Every time Brenda shops for groceries in Dickinson, North Dakota, she is careful about what she buys. The price of food has gone up in recent months and her budget doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. Items that once cost her $3, now costs $5-6. In particular, she’s noticed the price of perishable foods like meat, fruits, vegetables and milk have gone up. “Money is tight,” she said. “I have to watch how I spend it.”
Brenda, 63, and her husband live on a fixed monthly income. She receives disability payments. Her husband receives Social Security. With their combined income, they cover their home mortgage and expenses like electricity. They also pay transportation expenses like gas and car insurance. The couple’s income qualifies them for heating assistance and about $200 a month in assistance through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). “It doesn’t go very far,” she said.
Brenda tries to eat as much fresh produce as she can afford, but she often relies on processed foods for meals. It’s easier and less expensive, she said. In addition, she lost her sense of taste and smell after she caught COVID a few months ago. Food and cooking, in general, hold less interest for her. Still, she was grateful to receive fresh fruits and vegetables when the Great Plains Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry stopped in Dickinson. When she left the site, she had a couple bags of food that included potatoes, apples and a head of cabbage. She makes a point of attending these quarterly events. She has also invited friends and neighbors to join her. “We have some food at home, but these services are so helpful. I eat better,” she said. “There are a lot of people like us who are in need. I’m
thankful for any additional help I can get.”
Brenda and her husband have learned that living on a fixed income doesn’t always make it to the end of each month. She has found that assistance from the Great Plains Food Bank has made a big difference for the couple.