Rising diesel prices put pressure on Georgia food banks

Diesel prices have reached record highs in Georgia, and nonprofits that serve the most vulnerable communities are starting to feel the pressure.

The American Automobile Association, or AAA, reports that the average diesel price in Georgia reached $6.27 per gallon over the weekend. The price for a regular gallon of gasoline was at $4.20 below the national average of $4.48 per gallon. 

The Atlanta Community Food Bank relies on a fleet of 30 tractor-trailers and box trucks that deliver food to community partners across the state.

Kenneth Hill is the supply chain officer for the food bank. He said they are still delivering food to families despite the rising prices, but it is a challenge.

“We pay for the food that is coming in because the people who provide it charge us for it, and then we have to run our trucks with fuel to take it out to our neighbors,” he said. “So there’s a double impact on fuel when it comes to receiving and distributing that food.”

The food bank serves around 300,000 families per month across 29 counties in Georgia and has more than 700 partner agencies. Rural counties suffer the greatest food insecurity and are the farthest to reach.

“We can’t afford to pull back on what we’re distributing,” Hill said. “We can’t let our partners suffer because food or fuel prices have increased, so we have to absorb it.”

The Atlanta Community Food Bank estimates that it could spend about $100,000 in extra fuel costs this year because of the rise in diesel prices.

“With $100,000, we can feed a whole bunch of families,” Hill said. “That would actually translate to about 122,000 meals that we would be able to provide if we didn’t have to spend that on unexpected diesel fuel prices.”

Partners of the food bank are also struggling to keep up with the prices. The food bank suggests volunteering or donating to help with the rise in prices.