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More stomachs are growling in area Date published: 11/27/2008
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE One in eight Americans worried last year about where their next meal would come from, and experts say that rate is rising. National reports released Monday and last week show hunger staying relatively stable in 2007. But those statistics came before the economy took a nosedive this year. Those who work on the front lines of area feeding programs have already experienced increased demand. The Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, for example, served 7,000 more people in the first 10 months of this year than in all of last year. Area food pantries, mostly run by churches and nonprofit groups, report helping nearly three times as many people as last year. Some have recently served 50 families in two hours. And they all report shortages on their shelves. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its annual hunger report last week. Virginia fared well, one of few states showing a decline in hungry people in 2007. But 2008 isn't on track to be so rosy for Virginians. Some 55,000 more people received food aid from state departments of social services in October 2008 compared with October 2007. And church volunteers have seen sharp increases in attendance at community dinners, which serve those in need. Last summer, Fredericksburg Baptist Church served about 175 people at its Thursday-night spaghetti dinners. This year, as many as 500 stop by. And for the first time ever, the church ran out of food before the end of dinner last month. Other community dinners have more than doubled in diners, and churches have learned to keep extra food in freezers to avoid turning people away. "First, people are hit with the high gasoline prices, then as you go to the grocery store, prices rise higher and higher and higher," said Oya Oliver, director of the nonprofit area food bank. As prices rose, she said, many then lost their jobs and their houses. The "perfect storm"--as many social service agency directors call this financial crisis--drew many new people to seek help. "You see some people come in, and they're crying their eyes out because they've never in their lives had to do something like this," Oliver said. "It just tears down their pride and their self esteem." Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Date published: 11/27/2008
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