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Nov 28, 2009 9:28 am US/Eastern
More Seniors Turning To Food Pantries
WASHINGTON (CBS4) ―
Americans have long heard the tales from their parents and/or grandparents about growing up during the Great Depression. Unfortunately, those older Americans who learned to live on very little money are again facing a familiar issue related to a financial meltdown.
According to new statistics from the federal government, older Americans are being forced in greater numbers to soup kitchens and food pantries because of the "Great Recession."
The government said the number of seniors who have sought help from food pantries in the last year increased 81 percent to 408,000. The previous estimate from 2006 was 225,000. With the recession not showing signs of letting up any time soon on Main Street, the numbers are likely to increase.
The problem though is food pantries were already having trouble meeting the normal demand, especially over the holiday season. With an increasing number of seniors needing aid, the food pantries are likely to get further stretched as the recession carries on.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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