Hunger Increasing In County

Food Bank reports helping 11 percent more people The county’s poor are increasingly relying on the Spokane Food Bank.

Almost 13,000 people are fed by the food bank every month, an 11 percent increase from last year, according to the organization’s annual report released Wednesday.

Director Al Brislain said the agency’s responsibilities are also likely to increase.

“The system is working but is stretched,” he said. “And our clients are stretched, too.”

The food bank’s survey indicates that federal plans to cut food stamps could push more people to the food lines.

More than 60 percent of food bank recipients were already receiving food stamps when they came asking for food at one of the organization’s 17 emergency outlets.

By contrast, in 1991, only 30 percent of the recipients were on food stamps.

Other findings in the survey:

More than 90 percent of recipients live below the federal poverty level - $15,680 for a family of four.

Nearly half of recipients are children age 18 and under.

Almost 30 percent of recipients report they are disabled or in poor health, while only 15 percent say they are working full time.

The 567 people responding to the survey were asked what would help them overcome poverty.

More than half wanted job training; 42 percent wanted cheaper health insurance; and 36 percent wanted educational opportunities.

The respondents were also asked what they would tell political leaders. One answered: “Politicians need to put themselves in other people’s shoes with hungry children looking at them and asking what’s for dinner.”

, DataTimes