Food pantries see an increase of people in need

Alan Wang from ABC7 reports on the need for food assistance in Concord.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=7042107

Residents Living In Poverty Skyrockets In Contra Costa County

KTVU's David Stevenson reports from the Food Bank about poverty in Contra Costa County.

http://www.ktvu.com/video/21154221/index.html

More need and more donations

Check out USA Today's front page article - Food banks see more who need and more who give!

"We're up in terms of food and funds," says Ross Fraser, spokesman for Feeding America, the nation's largest network of food banks. He says food donations are up 20% and cash donations are up 46% from a year earlier.

How much does it cost to support a family?

How much must an individual earn to support their family? According to http://www.livingwage.geog.psu.edu/ it would take more than three full-time jobs, earning minimum wage, to support a three person family in our community.

Check it out:
Living Wage Calculation for Contra Costa County, California
Living Wage Calculation for Solano County, California

New Feeding America video features President Obama

Last week as President Obama addressed the state of the economy, he acknowledged that many Americans are struggling with hunger and are turning to food banks for help. But as those people reach out, he noted, food banks across the country are often unable to keep up with demand. Watch the video from Feeding America to see what the President had to say.

Local residents go to food banks for help

Check out this story that ran on ABC7 last night.
Many Bay Area people are standing in line for the first time at food banks.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=6642005