By Catherine M. Welch
Wilmington, NC – New Hanover County officials say while demand for food assistance has been on the rise in the past two years, demand really spiked this year.
Sam Lane with the New Hanover County Department of Social Services says 10,204 households received supplemental nutrition assistance last month. That's about 2,000 more than November of last year. Lane says the slumping economy is brining people to his door for the first time.
"Two income households where both have lost their jobs, or one has lost their job and the other's had the hours cut back considerably."
Lane says the growing demand is keeping his staff busy, processing around 1,000 applications for food assistance a month. And he expects high demand to continue next year.
Food Assistance in New Hanover County
November 2007 --- 7,256 households
November 2008 --- 8,037 households
November 2009 --- 10,204 households
November 2007 --- $1.5 million in assistance
November 2008 --- $2.6 million in assistance
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