ORLANDO, Fla. — As the 2024 election approaches, issues voters will be focused on are coming into focus. Surveys and polls show one of the most important issues to voters is the economy. A University of Michigan survey shows consumer sentiment jumped up in the last two months by 29% - the most since 1991. And a recent government report shows inflation is slowing down.
But some in Central Florida continue to struggle to with costs of living, including covering the cost of food, which could have an impact on how people vote.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida says searches for food assistance have doubled in the last year. So the cost of living is on the minds of many Central Floridians heading into the 2024 election.
A twice-monthly food drive at Patmos Chapel in Apopka can see over 100 cars lined up waiting.
Many say they'll wait as long as they need to.
“It’s cold when you come in the morning time, but later on it gets warm,” said Amey Wilkins.
She says with higher grocery prices she can no longer afford the food she needs.
“I try to add up in my head how much it costs for the groceries, and whatever is there and I don’t think I can take it, I have to put it back,” she said.
Wilkins isn’t alone.
“It’s the economy, the economy’s got to get better, because the prices are going up. It’s hard when you have a fixed income,” Wilkins said.
About two years ago she began coming to the first-come first-serve food drive.
Church volunteers load up trunks full of several boxes of fresh produce and frozen meat, enough food for a couple of weeks.
Arnel Smalley says demand picked up during the pandemic, and has only grown since.
“When God said when they were hungry we gave them food, when they were thirsty we gave them something to drink, that’s what we’re trying to do here," he said. "If people are hungry, people are thirsty, we want to make sure we’re giving them ample opportunity to come through the line.”
Smalley says the church went from serving about 200 families to 600 families. Most drivers aren’t picking up food for just themselves.
Wilkins shares her food with several other families. She says because of health problems, she could no longer work as a caretaker in a hospital. But she never lost her urge to help others.
“I care about people. I try to help whoever needs help. Friends who eat meat, whatever meat I have, I give it to them, and whatever food I don’t use, I give it to them. So, it’s a helping hand, just like I’m getting a helping hand,” she said.
She stocked up with food to last for about two weeks. But with the fluctuating cost of gas, it’s still a struggle. She can’t do this forever. She says prices need to come down.
“So many times when I fill my car up with gas, $50 worth of gas, and I have to take my runs to take food to other people, I’m like, God you’ve got to send me a blessing,” she said.
The organizers of that food drive report they used to allow people to pick up food for five or six families, but they’re having to limit that now to food for two to three families.
Stories like Wilkins’ could have an impact on the presidential election. Despite some strong economic numbers, it’s really the public and the voters’ perception of the economy.
Biden’s approval is at an all-time low.
But a University of Michigan poll shows consumer sentiment is improving. That could be a sign that voters are having more faith in President Joe Biden to handle the economy, which could bode well for him in November.
Anyone in need of food assistance can search the Food Finder at www.feedhopenow.org to locate an emergency food pantry or food distribution happening in their community.