FOOD BANKS NATIONWIDE STRUGGLE TO MEET DEMAND

Food bank directors across the country say that since the recession began in 2009, they have seen more families with children, the working poor in particular, and seniors. Many are people who've lost jobs, some are college educated and had been middle class, and others are seniors on fixed incomes who can't afford the rising costs of health care, food, or utilities. Katy Bunder, executive director of Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette, Indiana, says her food bank distributed with almost 6 million meals last year, six years ago it served about 2 million. In Minneapolis, Second Harvest Heartland has seen a 26% increase in visits to its food pantries from 2012 to 2013, to 400,000 people. To respond to the increase, food banks have provided more mobile pantries and created backpack programs for children to take food home on the weekends during the school year. Bender says her food bank serves 4,000 children in its backpack program, up from 200 when it started six years ago.

 

Source: USA Today, 4/22/14, Food Banks