The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana (FBNI) and 'Feeding America', the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, have issued the findings of a new study that suggest a significant increase in the growth of hunger in Idaho. Food banks are working to keep up with the great need for food.

Nearly 6,000 people every week in Porter and Lake Counties are receiving emergency food assistance from a local pantry or soup kitchen.

More than 140,000 Idahoans received emergency food last year; which points a 59 percent increase from 2006, suggested the study 'Hunger in Idaho 2010'.

Nationally, 'Feeding America' food banks extends free food assistance to 37 million people each year, including 14 million children, and 3 million seniors; marking a significant 46 percent increase from 2006.
In Lake and Porter counties, more than 34.3 percent of client households are facing very low food security and 78.9 percent of client households with children are food insecure.

FBNI Executive Director Angie Williams said revealed that 64 percent of our clients are living below the Federal Poverty Level. Many of them are being asked to choose between buying food and paying for other necessities like housing, utilities, fuel, and medical care.

FBNI is located in Gary and supplies food to over 100 pantries and soup kitchens in Porter and Lake Counties. Last year it distributed over 3.5 million pounds of food.