CENTRAL OHIO -- Central Ohio families need food now more than ever.
The Mid-Ohio Foodbank and Feeding America released details on 'Hunger in America 2010" Tuesday.
According to the study, some 248,000 people received emergency aid through the Mid-Ohio Foodbank last year. That's up 28 percent when the study was last conducted four years ago.
"To have literally 40,000 different people every week going to a food pantry, soup kitchen or shelter to get food in our 20-county service area is an alarming number," says Matt Habash, President and CEO of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
According to the study, 57 percent of clients said they had to choose between paying for utilities and food. That's a 30-percent increase over 2006.
Forty-three percent had to decide between making rent and mortgage payments and paying for food -- a 48-percent increase.
Also, 41 percent had to choose between food and medicine and medical care -- a 60-percent increase.
The Mid-Ohio Foodbank's new Grove City facility is three times the size of the old facility.
That means there's three times as much space to fill with donated goods and the bank needs three times as many volunteers.
"At a time, right now, when we normally don't get a lot of produce donated, we had a semi loaded of carrots donated that were bulk and had to be repacked. Ten semi loads of blueberries to get out to people. Really good, healthy food we need volunteers to help us with," Habash said.
Officials say you can also help by volunteering at your local food pantry and donating items.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail stories@nbc4i.com.
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement