A new report says one in seven Americans gets some of their food from the nation’s food banks.
The Hunger in America study finds demand remains high at the nation’s food banks despite an improving economy. Demand is high in Michigan as well.
Cathy Adcock is the interim executive director of the Food Bank Council of Michigan. She says demand on Michigan’s food banks and pantries remains high, even though the state’s unemployment rate has make significant improvement since the depth of the Great Recession.
“So many people are not fully employed. They have part-time employment. Or only one person in the household is working,” says Adcock. “We hope that we’re making an impact for sure, and the economy helps that, but there’s still underserved communities.”
Adcock says food banks and pantries are helping many groups, including the elderly and military veterans.
Michigan’s food banks will be marking Hunger Action Month in September.