By Jillian Farrel -- February 3, 2010
To represent the economic conditions for many in Massachusetts, there's been a 23 percent increase of residents who rely on food banks and shelters since 2006, according to a new Hunger in Massachusetts Study.
The study revealed that more than 37 million Americans received emergency food service last year. More Massachusetts residents relied on food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens in comparison to 2006, when the last study was taken.
The state delivered 44.7 million pounds of food last year, which reflects the poverty level during this recession.
Catharine D'Amato, president and chief executive of the Greater Boston Food Bank, said "they show how families are suffering and struggling to make ends meet during a time of economic distress. While we are providing more food than ever, that is simply not enough."
More than a third of the families to receive assistance had families with at least one working adult, but the vast majority of those recipients were unemployed for less than a year.
The study also found that almost half of those surveyed had to decide between food and paying utilities. Others had to choose between house payments, medical bills, and food.
Ernest Weinschenk, of the General Food Pantry in Lowell, has seen an increase among the elderly. "Mainly they are on fixed income and they have (an) increase in medications and things like that," he said. "And it isn't covering everything, the rent and everything, so they come for food."
The study also shows the need for food is outpacing its emergency food network, even though 30 percent more food has been distributed since 2006.
