Food banks say that the impact of the recession is increasing the need for them, while decreasing the number of donations. More middle-class and professional workers have lost their jobs, and are depending on the food banks. Many of those same people donated in the past. A new study found that only 7% of people who lost their job after 2008 have found jobs comparable to or above their previous job. Food banks say that they are struggling to meet the demand.
See "White-Collar Workers Join Crowd Straining Food Banks", Patrick Cole, Bloomberg News, January 10, 2012