Over the last few years, the United States has experienced a surge in inflation that has probably not been seen since the 1970s.

The war with Iran is now fueling inflation, literally. The price of oil has gone up, which means the prices of gasoline and diesel fuel will do the same. We have already seen proof of that at local filling stations. And higher fuel prices will push the prices of everything else up because everything is at some point transported by a truck or a train that burns fuel.

Everyone is feeling the hit of higher prices. And for some of our neighbors, that hit is especially brutal.

Those who were pretty much scraping by will now need help. Putting food on the table is one of the things they will need help with.

If you have ever considered donating to a local food pantry, now is the time to do it.

The Lord’s Cupboard and the Holy Trinity Parish Food Pantry are likely the two biggest and best known food pantries in Fort Dodge. Some of the schools have pantries to support their students. And there are a few small cupboards set up outdoors that contain some non-perishable food items someone in need could grab. An example of one of those was created by middle school and high school students who are members of First Presbyterian Church. It is located on North 12th Street.

Donations will be gratefully accepted at any of the local food pantries.

Those donations can be of food. For example, on its web site The Lord’s Cupboard reports that it is always in need of cereal, canned soup, pork and beans and pasta.

Monetary donations that the food pantries can use to buy groceries will also be accepted. Local food pantries can use that money to buy groceries from the Iowa Food Bank for pennies on the dollar, so even modest donations can have an outsized impact.

We urge people to not be judgmental about those who turn to food pantries.

We believe the vast majority of people who rely on food from food pantries would rather not have to do so. But because they got hammered by inflation, job loss or some family health crisis they don’t have any other choice.

We urge those who have a little extra to donate to food banks to support them.