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Associated Press - December 1, 2009 4:24 PM ET
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - The Crisis Center Food Bank and Emergency Assistance Program in Johnson County has seen a sharp jump in the number of people it serves each week.
For most of the year, the center served an average of 765 families each week. In November, that average jumped to 959.
Program director Sarah Benson Witry attributes the increase partly to the economy. She said Tuesday the increase was also due to families spending more funds on heating bills and to the overall increased consumption of food during cold months.
Capt. Terry Smith of The Salvation Army Iowa City Corps says the organization has also seen an increase in need.
In previous years, signups for the 150 Thanksgiving meal food baskets have taken about a week. Smith says this year the signup took only three days.
Information from: Iowa City Press-Citizen, http://www.press-citizen.com/
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