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The LIBRE Initiative gives North Carolinians relief from the rising cost of food

Economy
The LIBRE Initiative gives North Carolinians relief from the rising cost of food

Families who held summer cookouts and picnics paid more this year due to historic inflation and the rising cost of food.

As WWAY-TV in North Carolina reported, the price of groceries going up has caused the average U.S. household’s annual food costs to rise by about $430.

Inflation has a particularly harsh affect on Latino communities since they normally spend a larger share of their income on staples like food.

In North Carolina, inflation is higher than the national average. In all, households in the state are paying $566 more every month because of the rising cost of food and other items.

That’s why at two events in the Tar Heel state this summer, The LIBRE Initiative-North Carolina gave away gift cards for $28.67 — a number that represents the cost of two days’ worth of food inflation.

LIBRE's gift vouchers are being handed out at events across the country to provide relief from rising inflation caused by Washington's failed policies.

A gift voucher from LIBRE’s True Cost of Washington Tour event in Charlotte, North Carolina to help with increasing inflation.

With the price of groceries going up, every little bit helps

LIBRE-North Carolina Grassroots Engagement Director Jeffrey Baldwin told Star News, that, because of the rising cost of food,

“We’re feeling the pain of inflation with less money in our pockets. We’re feeling the pain at the pump and we’re also feeling the pain at the checkout counter.”

LIBRE-North Carolina visited Los Portales Supermarket in Wilmington and Sav/Way Foods in Charlotte. The organization delivered gift cards to 150 customers at each site.

“Today, the community will get some relief from inflation,” Baldwin said. “But tomorrow when they go back to the grocery store, they’re going to see the high prices again.”

Attendees appreciated the financial relief LIBRE provided. Some were overcome with emotion by the stress of inflation. Many shared stories about how they are paying more, but getting less at the checkout counter.

Kyle Luebke was at the Charlotte event.

“I really appreciate LIBRE being out here to focus on the reality that is most people’s lives in Charlotte and the impact inflation is having on them,” Luebke told The Carolina Journal, continuing with:

“[G]rocery prices have been significantly increasing, not just in Charlotte, but around the country. It’s not just groceries that are increasing. Gas prices, restaurant prices, and movie ticket prices are also increasing.”

LIBRE-NC Grassroots Engagement Director Jeffrey Baldwin speaks to a customer at LIBRE's True Cost of Washington event in Charlotte. LIBRE was on hand to provide relief from rising inflation and explain why Washington's failed policies are causing historic inflation.

Charlotte, North Carolina – June 26, 2022: Jeffrey Baldwin, LIBRE-North Carolina’s grassroots engagement director, speaks with an attendee at LIBRE’s True Cost of Washington event. LIBRE was on hand to provide relief from historic inflation driven by Washington’s failed policies.

Rising cost of food and other goods also harms small businesses

Miguel Villasenor-Castro, owner of Los Portales Supermarket, was happy his customers got a little help — even though, like many small business owners, he is paying more for goods as well.

Villasenor-Castro told Star News,

“You’re spending more money every week, but you’re not get any more money. That’s kind of tough on customers.”

Spanish-language news outlets also covered the events.

The Hispanic community opens businesses at a faster rate than other population groups in almost all industries. While these Latino-owned firms generally enjoy faster revenue increases than the average U.S. business, inflation rates are threatening their buying power.

The rising cost of food drove customers to talk to LIBRE volunteers about solutions to inflation.

Charlotte, North Carolina – June 26: The rising cost of food drove customers to talk with LIBRE staff to learn about solutions to reduce inflation.

The right policies could reverse the rising cost of food

The LIBRE Initiative’s True Cost of Washington Tour is visiting towns across the country to educate the Latino community about the policies that are driving up costs — and the ones that could combat inflation.

“We are going to various cities across the state talking to people about the impacts of inflation on this community,” Baldwin told WWAY-TV. “We want their voices to be heard.”

Bad policies may have caused inflation, but good policies could reverse the rising cost of food. Better policies include:

  • Cutting federal government spending, which results in a devalued currency
  • Removing the barriers to energy innovation, opposing costly taxes on carbon emissions, and streamlining permitting and licensing requirements for all types of energy
  • Ending the federal government’s practice of picking winners and losers by providing trillions of dollars in subsidies to some of the country’s largest companies
  • Reducing barriers to trade and ending high tariffs, which result in the price of groceries going up
  • Cutting unnecessary regulations that make it more difficult to produce and ship goods
  • Enacting legislation that makes it easier for people to pursue independent, flexible careers and creating policies that increase scheduling and work location flexibility.

But there’s more we can do.

Congress can stop inflation. Hold your legislators accountable for their wasteful spending that's increasing historic inflation today.

Join LIBRE today in ending inflation affecting Latino communities.