December 23, 2008
Food banks take more active role nationwide
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
By Matthew Santoni
Declining donations and rising demand nationwide are redefining the roles of food banks as more turn to purchasing and even producing food for needy families rather than just collecting and distributing it.
Feeding America, the national organization formerly known as Second Harvest, released a survey of 160 food banks around the country last week showing requests for assistance are up 30 percent since 2007.
Meanwhile, the grocery stores and wholesalers that traditionally donate large amounts of food are cutting back or remaining level, forcing food banks to go to the market in order to keep clients fed, said John Brositz, food resource manager for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
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