Historians generally agree Marie Antoinette never actually said “Let them eat cake,” as French citizens were struggling to buy bread to feed their families. But elected officials at all levels have come pretty close to expressing the same sentiment lately, as their constituencies wrestle with the consequences of a federal government shutdown that has endangered Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

Some seem to be expressing the sentiment intentionally — relishing in it, even — while others likely just don’t understand how their words are being felt.

On Monday, Old Man Rivers Executive Director Seth Franklin told Wood County Commissioners the number of households served by the organization jumped from an average of 170 per week to 471 during the week from Oct. 24-31.

Franklin told commissioners other food pantries in the area are experiencing a similar increase in the number of families in need. That means the pantries themselves are in need of food and financial support. So, he asked commissioners for $25,000 because “Things are only going to get more tough.”

While commissioners did agree to consider the request, they started talking about “teamwork,” and having the community jump in by contributing to upcoming food drives. Commission President Blair Couch even suggested Old Man Rivers could get involved with food drives that are being organized by the Salvation Army.

Of course, Franklin acknowledged those who are able to give HAVE helped — a lot.

“I think the community has done an amazing job,” he said.

And to be clear, those who have the resources SHOULD continue to give as much as possible to food banks and other organizations trying to keep local families from going hungry. We will continue in this space to urge them to do so.

The problem is many more people in the Mid-Ohio Valley, in our states and in this country are having a hard enough time keeping their own heads above water. Many of them are the kinds of people with a heart to give, if they could. But they are trying desperately to take care of their own families amid soaring grocery (and other) prices. According to inflation data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of food in the U.S. rose by 3.1% in the year ending in September — with meat, poultry, fish and eggs increasing 5.2% during that time. Those figures are on top of average food inflation of 2.7% in 2023 and 2.5% in 2024.

Meanwhile, U.S. Census Bureau data shows median household income did not return to 2019 levels until just last year. And while that holds true for Ohio as well, real median household income in West Virginia has not yet returned to that 2019 peak. Approximately 16.7% of the population lives below the poverty line in West Virginia; approximately 13.2% in Ohio.

Elected officials trying their hardest to face a difficult situation while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars are in a tough spot, there’s no doubt. But it is essential they understand that while those who are able MUST do their part to support vulnerable people, a significant percentage of the rest of us are running out or simply have nothing left to give.