Food Pantry Patrons Face ‘Too Much Month at the End of Their Money’ NYT - Top Stories By: Audra D. S. Burch 18 October 2026 at 10:00 Food inflation, gas prices and cuts to federal benefits have created a “perfect storm” for food pantries, which have become vital parts of the family budget for millions of Americans. © Eze Amos for The New York Times“People are hungry, and they are scared,” said Chris Manno, who volunteers and shops at a food pantry in Virginia.