Prior to Taylor Swift's July 14, 2023, concert in Denver, Aditi Desai, chief marketing officer at the Food Bank of the Rockies, received an unusual phone call. The renowned pop star wished to donate a significant amount of meals to the nonprofit organization – a charitable act she had repeatedly undertaken, much like her most popular songs, while touring across the country on her 52-city Eras Tour.

“I was astonished and then overjoyed by the news,” Desai expressed. “When (Swift's representatives) shared the information, they were exceptionally gracious, informing us that Taylor wanted to express her appreciation for the work we perform in our community every day.”

Since last March, Swift has generously donated funds equivalent to hundreds of thousands of meals to support the growing number of Americans struggling with rising food and housing costs . Her donations, made without seeking publicity, have been gratefully received. However, food bank administrators acknowledge that these contributions provide only temporary relief, as food insecurity continues to rise and federal COVID-19 assistance has ended.

“We experienced a surge in support during COVID,” said Jessica Sund, director of development and communications at Channel One Regional Food Bank of Minnesota, which received funding from Swift. “This significantly aided us in avoiding a dire situation. However, the numbers we are witnessing now are considerably higher due to inflation and the rising cost of living, and all that assistance has vanished.”

Swift's support has been impactful, food bank operators state, particularly in drawing attention to their vital service for low- and middle-income individuals. However, food banks, collectively, require billions of dollars in funding annually, stated Kyle Waide, CEO of Atlanta Community Food Bank, who serves as chair of the National Council for Feeding America and whose Georgia food bank is a Swift grantee.

The annual funding gap between the required amount for food assistance and the federal government's provision stands at approximately $33 billion , according to Feeding America, a network of food banks, pantries, and local meal programs.

“On a larger scale, food banks are undeniably facing substantial pressure, primarily due to the exceptionally high demand within the community,” Waide noted.

Generally, according to Feeding America, food banks rely on individual and corporate donations, contributions from local farmers and retailers, and federal aid programs to sustain their operations .

The self-proclaimed “tortured poet,” who has an estimated net worth exceeding $1 billion , has a history of supporting emergency relief causes. Swift’s charitable fund at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee was established to address flooding that affected the region in 2010. She contributed $1 million to the community foundation’s Tennessee Emergency Response Fund last year.

Food banks fortunate enough to receive a portion of Swift's wealth have expressed gratitude for the pop star's efforts in highlighting their work to alleviate hunger amid rising costs. They are facing increased demand for their services, exacerbated by food and energy price increases, as well as inflation. At least 49 million Americans rely on food from food banks and other charitable organizations. Young people, a significant portion of Swift's fanbase, are disproportionately affected by food insecurity. More than half of those aged 18 to 34 cited rising food costs as their most pressing financial concern.

Swift’s public relations team declined to comment on her charitable contributions to food banks. While grantees were asked to refrain from disclosing the amount of the gifts, Desai revealed that the contribution enabled Food Bank of the Rockies to purchase enough food for 75,000 meals. She noted that the food bank typically provides about three meals for every $1 donated.

Channel One Regional Food Bank of Minnesota, using Swift's donation, was able to purchase enough food for 30,000 meals, according to Jessica Sund, the organization's director of development and communications. She added that food banks can acquire between two and ten meals for every dollar donated.

“There is a wide range of support provided to each food bank,” Sund noted.

Channel One Regional Food Bank, serving 14 counties, typically spends about $8 million annually to maintain adequate food supplies for approximately 300,000 visitors.

Swift's contributions may constitute a small percentage of the tour's earnings and her personal wealth. However, many of her food bank beneficiaries deem the publicity she provides them invaluable.

Desai, spokesperson for Food Bank of the Rockies, explained that Swift's donation generated significant media attention, far exceeding their usual reach. “Our social media post announcing the gift saw a substantial increase in engagement, with a surge in likes and comments,” Desai said.

Some food banks reported a surge in small donations following press coverage of Swift's contributions. However, this increase was short-lived, and most continue to face challenges due to the high demand for their services as more Americans struggle to make ends meet.

Channel One is observing an increase in individuals and families seeking assistance for the first time as they realize they can no longer afford to purchase groceries on their own, Sund mentioned. Currently, the organization receives 10,000 visits to its on-site food pantry in Rochester, Minnesota, representing a 50 percent surge from the previous year, she said.

Sund and other food bank leaders attribute the rise in demand to inflation and the lack of affordable housing. They say that the termination of government pandemic relief funding has further worsened these challenges. In 2020, at the peak of the pandemic, the federal government expanded the Child Tax Credit program for low-income families. Lawmakers allowed this policy to expire at the end of 2021. Similarly, temporary benefit increases for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ceased in March 2023.

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley also received a donation from Swift during her U.S. tour. The organization was aware of Swift's contributions to food banks and reached out to her press team approximately a month before her performances in Santa Clara last July, said Shobana Gubbi, chief philanthropy officer at Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.

“A day before the concert, they just called us,” she said.

Gubbi declined to share specifics about the donation, stating only that the organization was grateful for the gift and for Swift “shining a light” on food insecurity. However, the situation on the ground hasn't significantly improved. The Silicon Valley area has been significantly impacted by job cuts in the tech sector, leading to reduced charitable giving, even from those still employed, Gubbi noted. People are apprehensive about job security and are donating less; consequently, this also translates into lower corporate matching funds, Gubbi added.

In response, Second Harvest is implementing budget cuts and maintaining a smaller staff, she stated. The food rations have also been reduced; instead of providing full gallons of milk, the bank now offers half gallons and alternates the distribution of meats, eggs, and dairy products, she explained. Some weeks individuals receive meats, while on other weeks they may only receive dairy and eggs, Gubbi clarified. The organization is currently serving 500,000 people monthly, a number comparable to the peak of the pandemic.

“Currently, we are facing significant challenges in securing support from the community,” she mentioned.

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Stephanie Beasley is a senior writer at the Chronicle of Philanthropy, where you can read the full article . This article was provided to The Associated Press by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as part of a partnership to cover philanthropy and nonprofits supported by the Lilly Endowment. The Chronicle is solely responsible for the content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy .