Food demand surges at local pantries
By Anthony LaMesa | December 3, 2003While those in charge of emergency food assistance for Charlottesville's neediest citizens are experiencing unparalleled demand for their services, officials at the city's food banks and soup kitchens say they are meeting the demand. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network, which includes the Thomas Jefferson Area Food Bank serving Charlottesville and surrounding counties, has seen a 25 percent increase in food requests each of the last two years, and this year's numbers should prove similar, said Sarah Althoff, Charlottesville area supervisor for the Thomas Jefferson Area Food Bank. Althoff said the increase is due to a number of factors, including recent layoffs at local manufacturers and Hurricane Isabel, which caused needy citizens to lose much of their perishable food because of power outages. Last year, the food bank network distributed eight million pounds of food and it is expected nine million pounds of food will be distributed this year.
