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11-20-2006, 02:54 AM
By Wendy Koch, USA TODAY
The nation's food banks are scrambling to serve a growing demand for help during the holidays at a time when government food donations and private cash contributions have fallen.
More people are asking for food even as the amount of government commodities available — milk, cheese, canned goods and other staples — is down 55% from 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A second USDA program of emergency food aid has stayed about the same. Together, they supply about one-fourth of what food banks give away.
USDA buys fewer commodities when it has less need to boost farm prices. It gives 80% of purchases to America's Second Harvest, a network of more than 200 food banks.
The loss of USDA commodities is "huge," says Paul Ash of the San Francisco Food Bank. He says his group is increasing visits to stores to pick up food with "sell by" dates about to expire.
Ash says the Bay Area's cost of living is forcing more low-income workers to seek help. He has managed to increase his holiday distribution 35% this year but says that remains "far short" of the need.
High rents have increased demand in Hawaii, doubling it in some areas, says Dick Grimm, president of Hawaii Foodbank.
Demand is up 34% from two years ago in the Dallas area, says Colleen Brinkmann of the North Texas Food Bank, and 39% from five years ago in Washington, D.C., and its suburbs, says Brian Smith of the Capital Area Food Bank.
"We have a lot of empty racks in our warehouse. That's unusual," says Carey Miller of the Food Bank of Iowa.
Despite reports of higher demand, a USDA report last week said the number of people who couldn't put food on the table at least part of the year fell in 2005 to 35 million, down from 38 million in 2004. It was the first decline in six years. But the report found the number of those worst off increased slightly.
High fuel prices this year have hurt many low-wage earners by forcing them to choose between heating their homes or buying food, says Maura Daly of America's Second Harvest.
Daly says the network is trying to expand programs, relying partly on a 3% rise this year in private food donations. She says financial donations this year are down 9% from 2005, not counting relief funds received after Hurricane Katrina.
"Every food bank will tell you," she says, "they need more food."
The nation's food banks are scrambling to serve a growing demand for help during the holidays at a time when government food donations and private cash contributions have fallen.
More people are asking for food even as the amount of government commodities available — milk, cheese, canned goods and other staples — is down 55% from 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A second USDA program of emergency food aid has stayed about the same. Together, they supply about one-fourth of what food banks give away.
USDA buys fewer commodities when it has less need to boost farm prices. It gives 80% of purchases to America's Second Harvest, a network of more than 200 food banks.
The loss of USDA commodities is "huge," says Paul Ash of the San Francisco Food Bank. He says his group is increasing visits to stores to pick up food with "sell by" dates about to expire.
Ash says the Bay Area's cost of living is forcing more low-income workers to seek help. He has managed to increase his holiday distribution 35% this year but says that remains "far short" of the need.
High rents have increased demand in Hawaii, doubling it in some areas, says Dick Grimm, president of Hawaii Foodbank.
Demand is up 34% from two years ago in the Dallas area, says Colleen Brinkmann of the North Texas Food Bank, and 39% from five years ago in Washington, D.C., and its suburbs, says Brian Smith of the Capital Area Food Bank.
"We have a lot of empty racks in our warehouse. That's unusual," says Carey Miller of the Food Bank of Iowa.
Despite reports of higher demand, a USDA report last week said the number of people who couldn't put food on the table at least part of the year fell in 2005 to 35 million, down from 38 million in 2004. It was the first decline in six years. But the report found the number of those worst off increased slightly.
High fuel prices this year have hurt many low-wage earners by forcing them to choose between heating their homes or buying food, says Maura Daly of America's Second Harvest.
Daly says the network is trying to expand programs, relying partly on a 3% rise this year in private food donations. She says financial donations this year are down 9% from 2005, not counting relief funds received after Hurricane Katrina.
"Every food bank will tell you," she says, "they need more food."