Charities have begun reducing the amount of free groceries given out in response to a rise in demand at food banks throughout the U.S., according to the Associated Press.
American food banks are expecting to give away close to 4 billion pounds of free groceries this year. That figure is more than double the amount given out 10 years ago, according to Feeding America. One in seven Americans relied on food banks in 2014.
The pressure to meet the rising demand is being felt by communities throughout the country, from Gloucester, Mass. and Des Moines, Iowa to Fort Smith, Ark. and Austin, Texas.
The reliance on food banks skyrocketed after the U.S. economic crash in 2008. But even as the economy continues to grow years later, the demand has yet to decrease, Fox News reported.
Experts are confused by the high demands considering the unemployment rate has nearly halved.
Many suspect that the increase in demand is due, in part, to people taking jobs as part-time workers and settling for lower wages, AP reported. Another reason could be the drop in food stamps rolls by almost 2.5 million people in recent years, causing people to look to food banks for their meals.
