AFL-CIO food bank hit hard amid layoffs at Miami Valley plants (American Axle)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/04/02/ddn040308foodbank.html

American Axle strike's effect on local workers has forced rising number of families to seek help.

By Dave Larsen

Staff Writer

Thursday, April 03, 2008

DAYTON — Demand for emergency food relief in the Miami Valley has increased 20 percent in recent months.

That number is likely to climb higher with the influx of more than 3,300 local workers laid off because of the Detroit-based American Axle & Manufacturing work stoppage.

"They just have gotten really bombarded in the last few weeks," said Foodbank chief Burma Rai regarding the AFL-CIO Labor Food Pantry. The Labor Food Pantry has seen record demand for food relief.

The Foodbank distributes $3.1 million worth of food to more than 90 food pantries, community kitchens and shelters in the Miami Valley.

"We were serving about 48,000 people annually, and half of those are kids," Rai said. "I would expect that we're going to see those numbers jump dramatically by the end of our fiscal year, which is June 30."

Rai attributed the increased demand to the rising cost of food and fuel, coupled with the loss of jobs.

FULL story and audio at link.

[skooooo]

1. ..

:cry:

[marmar]

2. It's getting ugly.....

n/t