It's Thanksgiving week, but not everyone will get their share of Turkey as hunger relief is not matching the requirement, reported The Sun. "Nearly five years into the economic crunch, hunger relief is failing to match the demand", food bank officials said, according to the report.
Michael Flood, president of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, said that this was going to be a lean holiday for the poor. "The demand for food has outstripped supplies, 564 agencies on a waiting list to receive food that will get none", he said.
The Great Recession may be history but the demand for food aid hasn't stopped. There are many people who depend only on food banks and pantries. Teresa Morgan, 62, who is disabled, said it was really important for her. "Without it, I'd probably go hungry", Daily News quoted her as saying.
The Los Angeles Food bank has reported 42% lesser food supply than last year, the lowest in recent history. There was definitely a food shortage, the report said.
A food bank in Pacoima reported donations were down compared to last year. They served about 200 to 300 Turkeys last year, but this year's Thanksgiving was a different story altogether. "We have none. Zero. Not one," said Will Hernandez, San Fernando Valley Bank.
The situation is worsening and recession has pushed the demand. One in seven do not have a job in Southern California. More than 1000 food banks are struggling to supply emergency food. Providers say that the problem is price rise due to a long drought across Midwest.
Many banks have resorted to retail donations to fill the economic crunch. "Our food banks are seeing the impact of less bonus buys," said Carrie Calvert, Feeding America's director of tax and commodities policy, in Washington, D.C. "A lot of our agencies are having a tough time. I think we will see an improvement between January and May. But long term, food price inflation will have an impact, and commodities will cost more."
