Demand for food assistance up 325%

[underpants]

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

The headline in the hard copy of this paper is
"Food Banks stretched thin"

Though Foodbank is taking in more donations, it can't keep up with the rise in recipients

The Central Virginia Foodbank is taking in more food than ever, but it can't keep up with demand.

Foodbank President Fay Lohr wasn't sure why, until she asked for figures from the 500 agencies that get food from the food bank. The number of aid recipients has increased 325 percent since last year.

"Even we were shocked," she said, when she got the numbers comparing people served in August 2007 to people served in August 2008.

Overall, recipients increased to 100,401 from 23,649. That's a 325 percent increase.

Read more: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-15-0146.html

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At the Salvation Army food pantry, the number of cases has gone up 129 percent and the number of individual clients has increased 97 percent, while the number of people turned away has increased 140 percent, said Jeff Baldwin, public relations director.

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CNN reported yesterday that the Salvation Army has seen a 50% increase in demands/business

Also

Thrift stores: We're seeing more middle-class shoppers
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/10/06/thrift.shops.ap/
October 7, 2008

[raccoon]

1. There have been similar stories in the newspaper in upstate SC.

I expect in most parts of the US the food banks are stretched thin.

[amyrose2712]

2. I am going shopping today. Let's all give what we can.

Look in you cupboards. Maybe there is some stuff in there that you don't absolutely NEED. A can of tuna, soup, pasta, rice. Times are tough on all of us, give a little of what you have, you may have less or may have too miss a meal, so someone else can have one.

[lonestarnot]

3. Soup lines, do they still serve soup or is it water with a little dirt spice?

[nichomachus]

4. When food banks are stretched too thin -- we will begin to see food stealing

It happened before, and it could happen again. People do desperate things in desperate times.

Already gas theft is on the increase. A couple of guys nearly blew themselves up trying to siphon gas from rental trucks at a UHaul near me. They burned up three trucks in the process.

A locking gas cap is a good idea, but if the gas thieves think there's a good haul to be had, they are now simply punching holes in the bottom of the gas tank -- much easier than siphoning.

[4_TN_TITANS]

5. Already seeing food thefts in TN...

Thieves committing local breakins are taking the TV's, stereos, browsing the cupboards, and even grabbing the milk from the fridge on the way out.

[WhiteTara]

6. that is shocking!

we are a nation led by bastards.