More local families going hungry due to the pandemic

Are concerned the issue could worsen over the winter.

News 18's joe paul visited several food pantries today.

He joins us live to tell us why those non- profits are anticipating a growing need for hunger relief.

Joe?

I'm here at food finders food bank's fresh market on greenbush street.

Plenty of people weren d out this ternoon.

These are people i'm told may have to choose between heating and feeding their families.

An easydecision to m<"the pandeg the is y in profound and ways."

More local families are struggling to put food on the table because of the economic damage of covid-19.

That's according to lafayette urban ministry executive director wes tillett.

Lum opens its protein food pantry once a week.

"food insecurity goes back to financial insecurity.

If you don't have the funds to buy the food you need to stay healthy and energized, then you are in need.

So the pandemic has had a tremendous impact on people and their financial situation, their job situation."

U.s. unemployment claims last week rose to nearly 900- thousand.

That's a huge number being felt right here in lafayette.

"we're seeing clients that had jobs, that lost their jobs.

Like i said, they're having to come and use food assistance when they haven't had to before."

Kier crites says food finders food bank could see a five- percent rise in food insecurity rates in its 16-county service area.

More than 76- thousand people in the area already go hungry at least some of the time.

That includes 22- thousand children.

"those are the types of numbers that we're seeing and we're not seeing a decrease yet.

We're worried if the economy gets worse with things like that it's just going to continue."

The problem could worsen as cold weather sets in.

That's because low- income families must choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table.

"as we head into this winter season, we're going to see even more need, not just for food but rent and utilities and things like that.

It's going to be a difficult winter."

Food finders is asking for help from the community to stock their food bank over the winfood dri starts today and contiueuntil dm nd mlearn how to our we reporting live in lafayette, joe paul,new.

A state department of health is reporting more than