Rising fuel costs worry local nonprofits

Matthew’s Hope is cutting back on the amount of food it provides its communities due to rising costs in fuel. 

Founder and CEO Scott Billue said the nonprofit already is experiencing a 30% jump in fuel costs in just two weeks as the cost of gas increases, reaching nearly $4 per gallon. 

While Billue budgeted $4 per gallon for the ministries’ buses, it now is approaching $7 per gallon. 

“How much of that can we absorb?” he asked himself. “How do we do it?”

The increase cost in fuel is causing local nonprofits such as Matthew’s Hope, Southeastern Food and others to make cuts to services to ensure they still can serve the community. 

Since the conflict with Iran began Feb. 28, fuel prices have surged by more than 30% or $1 per gallon nationally. 

In Florida, it’s increased by roughly 45%, with gas prices reaching an average of near $3.95 to $4 per gallon, marking the highest prices the market has seen since 2023. 

On top of the buses, Matthew’s Hope goes mobile into the community, handing out food bags that typically include sandwiches, granola bars, fruits, water bottles and more, as well as transporting the homeless to medical appointments. 

The nonprofit has 23 vehicles. 

“It’s a lot of fuel,” Billue said. “The only thing you can do is cut back. … For our own preservation and to make sure we’re here as long as we can to help as many people as we can, we’re going to have to make some cutbacks, and food is one area we’re going to do that in. The downside is that less food is available to everybody already and we’re saying even less.” 

One way food is being cut back at Matthew’s Hope is through its food pantry days on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

“We had to cut (the amount of food provided) in half because I don’t know where I’m going to get the money to cover the extra fuel costs and the extra food costs, along with everything else,” he said. “Even the cost of our showers go up because our showers are run off natural gas.” 

Billue said with costs rising in almost every category of expenditures, smaller nonprofits are shutting down or backing down on services, which increases the amount of people the ministries serve. 

While the nonprofit struggles with its finances due to rising costs so do donors. 

“They’re telling us, ‘We want to help, but we don’t know when we might be calling for help ourselves because of the uncertainty with what’s happening in the economy,’” Billue said. 

After spending $70,000 to open freeze warning emergency shelters eight times since November, the nonprofit is unsure of what comes next. 

“It’s almost like falling from one crisis into another,” he said. “Somehow, by the grace of God, we’ve made it to 16 years. I feel very confidently that we’re going to make it another 16 years, but I think we’re in for a rocky road and process to get there.” 

Southeastern Food Bank in Ocoee also is struggling. 

Founder Mark Anthony said the increase cost in fuel is affecting the nonprofit’s funds every day. 

Picking up food from all over the state, the nonprofit is spending 25% more than usual. 

If the rising costs stay consistent, Southeastern Food Bank might spend more than $25,000 yearly just in fuel. 

Anthony’s solution to maintain services the same while facing financial challenges is to pay for fuel with credit cards. 

“The cost of using credit cards can be dangerous,” he said. “But we want to keep that food flowing to our partners and to our sub distributors.” 

With cost uncertainties and the future unknown, all nonprofits can do is be hopeful. 

If prices continue to rise, Anthony said the nonprofit likely will exceed its fuel budget. 

On top of that, the food demand also is increasing. 

“We have more and more organizations and surges of nonprofits coming to us for food because of the increased demand,” he said. “We’re going through a lot of groceries real fast.” 

With a higher food demand, more fuel is used to get the supplies, costing the nonprofit more money. 

“Back in the ole days (in 2008), we were in the hole about $14,000, so it’s not going to stop us now,” Anthony said. “We’ll continue to (do what we do) because those people are counting on us. We’ll continue to do what we’re supposed to do.” 

For now, nonprofits are asking for financial support to continue providing their essential services to the communities in need, including the elderly, children, people with disabilities and the underprivileged. 

“There’s more people in need, so we got to figure it out,” Billue said.