Food Bank Numbers Continue to Grow

As the economic recession continues, Seattle food banks have stepped up to serve record numbers of people in need, and unfortunately it doesn't look as though food bank lines will be getting shorter anytime soon. Jack Wagstaff of the West Seattle Food Bank was kind enough to develop some slides illustrating the increase in food bank use from 2007 through 2009, as well as explaining terms food banks use when reporting their numbers. Just click on the link below to check it out:

SFC: A Visual and Statistical Comparison

Food Stamp Use Soars!

According to this New York Times article, the Food Stamps are currently helping to feed an astonishing 1 in 8 Americans and 1 in 4 children!

Click on the link below to read the full article:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/us/29foodstamps.html?_r=1&hp

2009: A Year in Review

The Seattle food bank numbers are in for the year of 2009, and there is some bad news as well as some hopeful news:

Bad News: Seattle food banks saw a 20% increase in new clients since 2008, and an 11% increase in new households. It's very clear that more and more people are turning to food banks in order to make ends meet.

Hopeful News: With the help of community partners, food banks have so far been able to keep up with the increased demand for their services, distributing 20% more food than they did in 2008. We hope that this support will continue so that we can maintain this vital safety net for all who need it.


If you're craving more numbers, you can view the full picture here.