St. Pete Free Clinic CEO Jennifer Yeagley said she has seen a steady increase in need for food assistance that’s coincided with climbing grocery costs and cost-of-living increases over the past year.
“As we know, in the Tampa Bay region, the Consumer Price Index for groceries and utilities is much higher than it was a year ago and trending ahead of national inflation rates. Additionally, rent is over 15% higher in our area than it was in January 2023, which continues to stretch people’s earnings beyond what their budgets can accommodate,” Yeagley wrote in an emailed response.
