Demand at Food Banks Continues to Rise

[Moe Bedard]

"With the deterioration of the economy, it will drive an increase in demand for emergency food," he said. "Though it's hard to predict future job loss, it's expected to increase. Add in the people cycling off unemployment and those exhausting their employee benefits — all those are indicators that point to higher demand."



In operation since 1977, Gleaners has steadily increased the amount of food distributed since 2004, when it disseminated 19.6 million pounds of food. The food bank distributed 28.6 million pounds in 2008, and 30.8 million pounds by Sept. 30, 2009.

"That's an increase of 2 million pounds of food in one year, and we don't see it relenting, but increasing," said DeWayne Wells, Gleaners' president.
More than half of Gleaners' food — about 15 million pounds annually — is distributed at no cost to partner agencies. The rest is provided at a shared maintenance fee of 10 cents per pound to help offset the costs of
food handling and transportation.

Wells said the economy is the main contributor to the emergency food crisis in Michigan.

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