Necessities such as gas, and integral Thanksgiving cornerpieces are in limited supply approaching the holiday season. Considering these shortages and the ever changing variable that is COVID, Thanksgiving may lack crucial fundamentals this year.

  Although North Carolinians are experiencing steep fuel prices that on occasion may top $3.30 per gallon, the Tarheel state is not entirely on the short end of the stick. As of right now, a majority of citizens throughout California are paying a whopping $4.70 per gallon.

  Insider reports that the rising fuel costs may carry a good omen: more people are getting back on the road after a rough year and a half. Are the reasons behind the jaw-dropping gas prices across the country all positive and optimistic? No, quite the opposite, as U.S. oil production and refinery is reportedly not keeping up with the newfound high demand.

  “While I do dislike the consistently rising prices for my wallet’s sake, I understand why they are there and why they are needed for equilibrium in the economy.” 12th grader at Sanderson High School Shane Adams continues his thoughts- “As the supply chain is still affected by COVID around the world and demand rises, the higher prices are going to remain until oil supplies around the world increase.”

  On top of the possible June 2021-esque gas chaos that may ensue over the holidays, countless time sensitive products may be of scarce availability during Thanksgiving time. Turkey, an integral part of the average American Thanksgiving dinner, may be rather hard to come by within a week’s time. 

  Nowadays, it is hard to talk about any issue without the conversation consequently leading to the underemployment of numerous industries. Not only are a multitude of restaurants and retail stores out of labor, the turkey industry has been hit quite hard by this labor shortage. 

  Class of 2022 Sanderson student, Maslan Vogelsberg, speaks her opinion on the shortages leading into the holiday season. “I do not like turkey as much, so the turkey shortage does not affect me as much.” The Spartan senior shares. “But I have to work more to keep my [gas] tank full.”

  Whether it be a traveling issue, or making last second dinner changes on Thanksgiving day, change is inevitable when it comes to the holiday season of 2021. All that we can hope for is that the supply chain recovers from this hiccup.