Hunger Spreads in US as Food Relief Organizations Strain

About 1 in 10 people in the Twin Cities are going hungry, according to Greater Twin Cities United Way. And at places such as the ICA food shelf in Minnetonka, which serves the affluent west metro suburbs, a third of the customers have never been to a food pantry before. In October, Target contributed about 24 percent of the perishable food collected by the Second Harvest charity, and Wal-Mart added about 17 percent. Grocers such as Supervalue and Cub supply most of the balance.

In the past year, Second Harvest, which serves more than 980 emergency food organizations in 59 Minnesota and Wisconsin counties, has gathered up 4.9 million pounds of food, a 45- percent increase over the previous year. Ron Zeaske, Second Harvest's executive director, said Second Harvest might be able to bring in 9 million pounds of perishables next year, an 80-percent increase.

An LPAC supporter who sent in this report noted that he could soon become one of those needing such relief.

In the town of Leesburg, in Loudoun County, Virginia, which has the highest median income per capita in the country, the county's largest food pantry has experienced a 70-percent increase in clients seeking food since January, and its executive director predicts another jump this month and next. Executive Director of the Loudoun Interfaith Relief, Bonnie Inman, said the group has provided food to about 1,000 more people each month of this year.

In the woods along a bike path less than a half-mile from downtown Leesburg, at least 8-9 tents have been set up by the homeless.