The New York Times, in a story about how food banks are having a hard time meeting the needs of hungry Americans, quotes a MANNA Food Banks spokeswoman in Asheville:
Kitty Schaller, who runs the Manna FoodBank in Asheville, N.C., said that while demand was up, donations had fallen because of the local economy. “We are flat against last year on contributions,” she said. “The trouble is, expenses are going up and it is a very uncertain future in terms of our ability to have enough goods in the warehouse” to meet demand.
Her agency supplies food to more than 330 pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other such operations in 16 counties, on a budget of just $2.5 million, half of which comes from individual and foundation gifts, with another 5 percent from the local United Way.