As the cost of fuel rises, so does the cost of food.

That impact isn’t just felt by shoppers at grocery stores, but also by organizations trying to help people in need.

What You Need To Know

  • As the cost of fuel rises, so does the cost of food

  • That impact isn’t just felt by shoppers at grocery stores, but also by organizations trying to help people in need

  • Organizations providing food to people say diesel fuel prices have increased by at least 50% since the start of the Iran conflict

“It’s distressing because folks are paying more to get to work. They’re paying more for the groceries, more for their utilities. It’s all-around pressure. So, we’re doing our best to try to alleviate that,” said pastor Mike Servello, the founder and CEO of Compassion Coalition.

Servello said diesel fuel costs have increased 50% since the Iran conflict started, affecting farmers’ costs, production costs and transportation costs.

It’s impacting the nonprofit’s store, Bargain Grocery, which sells groceries for less money than national chain stores.

“If we bring a load of fresh produce out of Florida, it doubled in price, doubled. So that’s reflected in, say, an extra $2 per box of an item, depending on how much that is, so much per pound,” he said.

Servello said 96% of the money generated at Bargain Grocery goes back out as donations to the community.

As costs go up, he said it hinders this work a little bit.

They’re not alone. 

“Our fuel costs went up more than 42% month a month, over $10,000 in one month,” said Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York COO Nick Pisani.

The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York CEO Tom Nardacci said 355,000 people rely on it each month.

More money spent on fuel is less money for food.

“Nearly 30,000 meals per month that are now not able to be delivered because we’re spending money on fuel,” Pisani said.

Back at Bargain Grocery, shoppers said they’re finding ways to save, including by shopping there instead of national chain stores.

“You can get carrots for 99 cents a pound. You cannot buy them anywhere else for that,” said Vanessa Armendola of Utica.

“I do garden and I can. So you have to find ways,” said Mary Brown of Utica.

Servello said he often meets with government leaders at all levels, and he encourages them to help constituents.

“Can’t we get along? Present an example to this nation of if we really focused on solutions that were good for everyone. I think a lot of the bickering would stop,” he said.