The Regional Food Bank, already dealing with budget cuts, inflation, and rising food insecurity, is feeling the pressure of high fuel prices. Fuel prices have increased costs of operating the Food Bank’s fleet of trucks by more than 54% from 2025.
Each month, the Regional Food Bank travels 28,514 miles to distribute food throughout its vast 23 county region. The Regional Food Bank is the largest in New York State, serving 41 percent of the landmass from the lower Hudson Valley to the North County and Adirondack Region. In May alone, the Regional Food Bank anticipates spending $10,000 more on fuel compared to this month last year. These dollars are maintaining operational funds that would have otherwise provided 30,000 meals to neighbors in need.
The Food Bank’s team of drivers delivers fruits, vegetables and other essential food from the Capital Region Distribution Center in Albany County and the Hudson Valley Distribution Center in Montgomery County every single day to ensure more than 1,000 agency partners receive foods to feed and nourish their communities.
“Rising fuel costs are placing tremendous pressure on the Food Bank’s operations and budget, but the greatest impact is being felt by the people who depend on us every day,” said Tom Nardacci, CEO of the Regional Food Bank. “Families in rural communities without reliable transportation, parents skipping meals so their children can eat, and seniors forced to choose between food and medication are bearing the heaviest burden right now as they try to stretch their weekly budget. Every dollar diverted to fuel costs is a dollar we cannot invest in providing fresh, nutritious food to the 355,000 neighbors who rely on us each month.”
According to Feeding America, 1 in 7 New York residents suffer from food insecurity and rely on charitable food programs like local pantries and soup kitchens. Due to rising gas prices and cuts to essential emergency food assistance benefits like SNAP, individuals have less money to spend on groceries. Without reliable delivery of food from Food Banks, approximately 1.8 million New Yorkers utilizing food pantries will see a decrease in the availability, variety, and quality of food.
As the need continues to rise for community food assistance programs, The Regional Food Bank is committed to its mission to alleviate hunger, prevent food waste, and lead a network of partners to nourish the communities we serve.