If you took a look at your receipt after the last trip to the grocery store and needed a minute to recover, you’re not alone. Increases in prices are a problem for many households — and for food banks.

Pricier groceries might mean a family has to change what it buys regularly. Extras for donation to a food bank are falling by the wayside.

For those trying to feed families and individuals in need, inflation, the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a lack of government funding have created a mess. It is a serious enough problem that the Ohio FoodBank Association is asking for $50 million to immediately go to purchased food that can be delivered quickly, and $133 million to put toward long-term investments such as nonperishable food stock.

Donations from individuals are only a small part of the solution. As elected officials and bureaucrats get to work on addressing the shortfall their way, the rest of us can get to work, too.

Those who are able should consider routinely adding items to their grocery shopping that can be taken to a local food bank.

It could be any of us. So, while we are able, let’s do what we can to help.