Assembly this exponential demand has been an awesome problem for the Alameda County Neighborhood Meals Financial institution.
“We have seen unprecedented peaks of want,” says Michael Altfest of the Alameda County Neighborhood Meals Financial institution. “Nearly in a single day we noticed a thousand p.c improve in calls to our meals assist line. We at the moment are distributing 50 to 70 p.c extra meals than final yr.”
Lots of the individuals ready in line on New Years Eve at this meals drive get meals not just for themselves, but additionally for others.
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“The bins we obtain we share with our neighbors,” says Roberta Crawford. “We have now some neighbors who can not exit and this is essential. It helps lots of people.”
The massive improve in demand for meals in Alameda County for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic started is mirrored in meals banks and non-profit organizations all through the Bay Space.
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Second Harvest Meals Financial institution within the South Bay has doubled its meals distribution since March, because it struggles to maintain sufficient in-person volunteers on its lists.
The San Francisco-Marin Meals Financial institution now serves 55,000 households per week, whereas the Contra Costa and Solano Meals Banks now present meals for 100,000 extra individuals per 30 days for the reason that pandemic struck.
Fortuitously, the group and company companions have elevated their donations.
WHERE YOU LIVE: Donate to Bay Space Meals Banks
However on the similar time, the price of shopping for meals for the group has skyrocketed.
“We now spend between $ 1.5 million and $ 2 million on meals every month,” says Altfest. “This time final yr, that was about $ 400,000.”
Because it rises to satisfy the wants of many households, Bay Space meals banks hope that the brand new yr will raise many individuals out of the darkness that marked a lot of 2020.
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