Wednesday, November 26, 2008

U.S. Food Banks Can't Keep up with Demand

With stories that U.S. food banks can't keep up with the increase in people whom are going hungry, it's starting to look a lot like the Great Depression. And it will only get worse if something isn't done soon. Maybe some of those hundreds of billions could go towards feeding the needy. How about the wealthy chipping in? After all, many of the rich are responsible for the economic mess we're currently in.

Donations to many of the USA's food banks are not keeping pace with growing demand as the sour economy forces more people to seek help, charitable organizations say.

"We have seen a 100% increase in demand in the last year … and food donations have dropped precipitously," says Dana Wilkie, CEO of the Community Food Bank in Fresno, Calif.

The group, which distributes food to 200 food pantries and feeding centers, is supplying cheaper chickens instead of turkeys for Thanksgiving, she says.

Nationally, donations are up about 18%, but demand has grown 25%-40%, says Vicki Escarra of Feeding America, the USA's largest hunger-relief charity. Feeding America, formerly America's Second Harvest, has a network of 206 food banks.

About 70% of new clients are making their first visit to a food bank, Escarra says.

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