Hunger Among Americans On The Increase

Unemployment, mortgage foreclosure and other woes cause growing hunger among citizens of San Diego Country

Here the SD Food Bank distributes necessary nutrition through numerous churches and community center outlets. Hunger requests for staples plus supplied fresh vegetables and fruits to those in need have increased dramatically during this ailing economy.

Large numberss of county residents now seek donated food where the Food Bank is the city’s leading hunger food-relief organization.

Record Hunger Needs
San Diego Food Bank is distributing the most food it has ever delivered during its 33-years in existence. 15.3 million pounds have been dispensed this fiscal year, that’s a 56% increase.

Hunger In Areas Requesting Food Increase:
Lemon Grove 436%
Vista 368%
Imperial Beach 234%
Spring Valley 219%
Ramona 80%
San Diego proper 72%
San Marcos 61%
Jacumba 55%
National City 52%
Drastically increased demands are unlikely to decrease in the near future if at all, according to Food Bank Chairman Mitch Mitchell. When Mitchell took over in 2006 the Food Bank was providing food to 200,000 people each month plus their pets. Mitchell says. “Now, we provide food for 340,000 people per month and we are expecting our lines to continue to grow. People are running out of savings, foreclosures are growing, gasoline prices are rising.”

Needs in response to hunger have expanded more so in some areas of San Diego County where statistics show there is significantly higher demand. Distribution volume leaped in Lemon Grove 436% in the first two quarters of this fiscal year alone. Vista, Imperial Beach, and Spring Valley residents are also hard hit.

These hunger trends are similar among other food-relief organizations according to Tim Ney, chief operations officer at Feeding America.

The Good Are Giving
Also on the rise with hunger in nonprofit food distribution — 10,000,000 pounds of food delivered last year has become 14,600,000 pounds this year.

Now Changing?
Feeding America in Chicago, Illinois is getting more requests from middle-class residents standing in its food lines. “Not only is there an increased demand from those who are hungry, but the face of hunger is changing,” Ney said. “It used to be a different demographic. Now it’s working adults who don’t have the means.”

Popularity: 7% [?]