CINCINNATI — The record-high inflation pushing grocery prices higher has more families turning to food pantries for help. A southwest Ohio pantry almost doubled its size to keep up with the demand. 

James Gentry is one of dozens who waited in line to get free groceries. He packed his bags in a cart and walked them home to cut costs. 

“It helps a whole lot because it supplements what I get on a regular basis,” said Gentry.

The groceries Gentry received came from a Cincinnati food pantry where dozens of people lined up. 

“We’ve seen a huge increase in pantry visits over the last two years, and they have not gone down. In fact, in the last three months, they are still increasing yet again,” said Melissa Meyer, executive director of Churches Active in Northside.

CAIN operates the pantry. Meyer said the increased demand is the reason they remodeled and added more space, more food and more donations. 

“We’ve gotten food and diapers and baby wipes and all kinds of things,” Meyer said. “This is the kind of stuff that keeps us in operation.”

With inflation driving grocery prices up, Meyer said they expect the need to keep growing, while everyone’s doing what they can to keep up. 

“Everybody’s got to give. That’s the only way we’re going to get out of this situation,” said Gentry. 

CAIN organizers open the pantry every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

More information about the pantry may be found here.