Food Banks, in a Squeeze, Tighten Belts

[shireen]

Source: New York Times

MANCHESTER, N.H., Nov. 26 — Food banks around the country are reporting critical shortages that have forced them to ration supplies, distribute staples usually reserved for disaster relief and in some instances close.

“It’s one of the most demanding years I’ve seen in my 30 years” in the field, said Catherine D’Amato, president and chief executive of the Greater Boston Food Bank, comparing the situation to the recession of the late 1970s.

Experts attributed the shortages to an unusual combination of factors, including rising demand, a sharp drop in federal supplies of excess farm products, and tighter inventory controls that are leaving supermarkets and other retailers with less food to donate.

“We don’t have nearly what people need, and that’s all there is to it,” said Greg Bryant, director of the food pantry in Sheffield, Vt.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/us/30food.html

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If you can, please organize a food drive for your local food bank. Do it at work, in church, community groups ... wherever you can.

Monetary donations are most useful because food banks really know how to make the dollar stretch.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

1. Duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[maddezmom]

2. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...