Economy’s woes driving more people to local food pantries
Requests on rise ahead of holidays
Rising unemployment, faltering wages, and a lingering recession are driving more families and individuals to their local food pantries, agency officials across the state said yesterday.
The Greater Boston Food Bank is reporting that requests for Thanksgiving turkeys has increased this year, outstripping last year, when the recession was taking hold, by 14 percent. Overall, the agency’s 600 food programs saw an 11 percent increase in demand during the fiscal 2009, which ended June 30.
With the holidays approaching, the food bank officials said, requests for Thanksgiving turkeys have jumped 14 percent.
“The recession may be over in technical terms, but unemployment is not,’’ said Catherine D’Amato, president of the Greater Boston Food Bank. “While we all agree that things feel better than 12 months ago, it is going take some time.’’
Food banks across the state say the wave of people seeking donations at food pantries, shelters, and residential programs are trying to save cash to pay for other necessities, such as prescriptions and bills.
“I see more and more people that one would expect to do fine, but they tell me they are struggling,’’ said Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Morehouse said visits to the food bank’s pantries, shelters, and programs increased by 17 percent during the first eight months of this year, compared with the same period last year, from 679,000 to 797,000.
Meals served at those programs also increased by 25 percent, to 4.4 million between January and August, compared with 3.5 million during the same period last year.
“It’s a greater increase than the year before,’’ said Morehouse, whose agency serves Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, and Berkshire counties.
“And it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone,’’ he said, “given the deepening recession that this country has seen.’’
To address the demand, the food bank has begun offering food stamp advice to some families ashamed of the stigma associated with food pantries.
In Worcester, demand for food assistance jumped 13 percent, from 82,000 people in fiscal 2008 to 93,000 in fiscal 2009, said Jean McMurray, executive director of the Worcester County Food Bank.
McMurray said the agency was fortunate to have also received a boost in support from individuals, schools, companies, and the state government, which helped the food bank meet the increasing demand.
“Because of that, as we enter into the holiday season, we are . . . in very good shape,’’ said McMurray.
Meghan E. Irons can be reached mirons@globe.com. 
