EVANSVILLE —The impact of rising gasoline prices is being felt far beyond just individuals who have to dig deeper into their wallets when they pay at the pump.
Local businesses that provide delivery services are faced with deciding whether to raise prices or cut back on deliveries in the near future.
Evansville's Meals on Wheels runs five routes daily, five days a week, delivering meals to local seniors. In less than two weeks, the weekly cost of gas for one 23-mile route climbed from $34 to $47, said Myrrl Choate, executive director for meals on wheels.
Choate said the delivery vans are their biggest expense. Gas for Monday alone cost about $384.
In 2008, Meals on Wheels tried switching from vans to more gas-friendly Pontiac Vibes. However, the volunteer drivers, who are mostly older, had difficulty getting in and out of the low-riding vehicles, and they couldn't carry as many meals in the small vehicles.
"If it (gasoline) keeps rising, we're going to have to consider cutting back our routes," Choate said.
They would still deliver the same number of meals, but another part of their service is checking on the customers to make sure they are feeling well. If they cut their routes, they will be cutting customer's checkups.
"In our opinion, that (the checkup) is just as important as the nutrition," Choate said. "We've never been forced to cut that."
George Litherland, general manager for The Flower Shop on South Kentucky Avenue, said the company's gas bill went up by $200 last month.
The Flower Shop is starting to consolidate deliveries to save on gas.
Litherland said if the gas prices continue to rise, they will consider raising delivery costs.
"It's not good for me; it's not good for my customers."
Spudz-N-Stuff owner Jason Dicken said the price of a week's worth of potatoes went up $2,000. Each crate of potatoes that cost $21 a week ago and is now $32.
"When gas goes up, produce goes up," Dicken said. "I've tried shopping around for better deals, but it's gone up everywhere."
Dicken doesn't charge extra for delivery, but is considering implementing a charge to help his drivers with their gas costs. He said tips have gone down, too, for the drivers, because people are cutting back everywhere.
Tommy Mroczkowski of Purdy Construction in Mount Vernon, Ind., said his coworkers have started carpooling to work and construction sites.
Mroczkowski said his boss is feeling the heat, with all the trucks they run.
"The best thing to do for everybody is just try to get a car with a smaller engine that's more efficient. That's really all you can do," Mroczkowski said. "You can't blame the government for everything, you know."
Dona Bowen of Evansville cleans houses and said her average gas cost to-and-from a house is now $10.
"I'm going to have to raise the prices on my houses just to afford it," Bowen said.
Connie Jesch, a third-grade teacher at Mount Vernon, said the prices are really affecting her colleagues; some have even transferred their job for a school closer to home to cut back on mileage.
"If it saves 20 miles a day, it saves 20 miles a day," Jesch said.
"It's affecting my kids and grandkids more than I am. They drive to work and school every day," said Mike Duncan of Evansville, whose grandchildren attend Reitz High School. If the prices keep rising, Duncan said they will have to start riding the bus.
"It's just too high. I wish they could do something else by getting alternative fuels," said Karl Fark of Evansville.