Free Lunch Programs See Need Double, Even Triple

By Justin Foss, Reporter

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By Justin Foss

Story Created: Jul 1, 2009 at 6:59 PM CST

Story Updated: Jul 1, 2009 at 9:19 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - It's lunch time, and right on schedule, the Salvation Army building fills with people enjoying a free lunch.

On this day it's tuna hotdish and beets. They're on to their second fruit after running out of the first.

"Its increased double, if not triple the number of people," said Barb Kehr.

Kehr has been coming here for lunch for the last three years.

Free meals are the Salvation Army's bread and butter - their top priority.

In the last year, they say the number of people coming in has more than doubled.

"So having to budget and prepare that much food has really had us all having to scramble in everything else we do here," said Lindsay Hand, with the Salvation Army.

That's a feeling echoed at most all of the other non-profits, especially at Mission of Hope.

"There has been an increase in numbers, not just in meals, in food pantry, shelter, all the services we provide, we're seeing an increase, and unfortunately the donations are dropping off too," said Tom Asby a staff member at Mission of Hope.

No one is sure exactly why there is an increase in need. Each of the non-profits say the line between flood victims and victims of the economy has become blurry.

Mission of Hope is helping more people now than they did during the flood.

"We saw the jump then, serving up to 115 people a day during that time, and that was our high number. Then last week we served 168," said Asby.

While each agency is stretching to handle the increase now, they're already worried about the winter.

Email Justin Foss at Justin.Foss@kcrg.com

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