Food banks struggle as federal government hands out less

Consumers are not the only ones trying to stretch their food dollar in the face of rising prices. As the market demand for food increases, the federal government is buying less fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products to give to needy families. Food banks and pantries nationwide are feeling the pinch as they struggle to provide food to the hungry, especially as record numbers of families turn to them for help.

Although Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette has managed to increase the amount of food distributed to area agencies in the last few years, it has recently seen cuts in the federal food that is donated. Kim Motuliak, director of operations at Food Finders Food Bank, said there has been a 39 percent drop in the amount of federal food donated this year compared to last.

In the first seven months of 2011, the food bank received 1.12 million pounds of food from the federal government to distribute to 170 nonprofit agencies in 16 counties across midnorth Indiana, including Tippecanoe County. Read more >>