Increased Need for Food

POSTED BY: Emily Baird
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 - 03:31 PM
Food Need

The Ohio Association of Second Harvest foodbanks is releasing a report that says more than 25 percent of food pantries and soup kitchens across the state didn't have enough food to meet the demand, and therefore, had to turn some people away.

The 2-1-1 Calling Center in Zanesville says it has noticed this trend, with more people asking for food assistance.

"The emergency food and pantries, out of the last six months, have been at the top of the list three times. If they're not at the top of the list, they're always somewhere at 1, 2, or 3. They're right there, " says 211 Call Center manager, Audrey Foster.

The reason for this high demand seems to stem from the economy.

"What we had heard is their hours have been cut, they're laid off, or they had to pay other bills, " says Foster.

Foster says it's often a last resort for people and difficult for them to say they aren't able to provide food for themselves.
