[November 22, 2009] Hunger strikes Tweet Nov 22, 2009 (Albany Times Union - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Capital Region food pantries struggle to fill growing need Demand rising Food Pantries for the Capital District serves 50 pantries in Albany and Rensselaer counties, and has seen an across-the-board increase in visits to its pantries. Here's a comparison between 2008 and 2009 from January until mid-November. The figures represent numbers of meals provided, not number of individuals served. Infants 2008: 4,367 2009: 4,884 Increase: 12 percent Children 2008:52,410 2009:59,789 Increase: 14 percent Adults (non-seniors) 2008: 71,008 2009: 85,910 Increase: 21 percent Seniors 2008: 10,329 2009: 12,434 Increase: 20 percent Funds coming into the Food Pantries for the Capital District: 2008: $257,979 2009: $259,088 (January to mid-November) How you can help Here is the contact information for the organizations mentioned in this story. Food Pantries for the Capital District: 458-1167 or http://foodpantries.net Doors of Hope: 674-4048 Schenectady Inner City Ministry: 374-2683 or http://sicm.us Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York: 786-3691 or http://rfbneny.com Items often in need for stocking pantry shelves but not often considered by donors include: Personal care items such as toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, feminine products Paper towels Diapers Foods for people with special health needs, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Low-salt soups and sugar-free foods can be expensive but are essential for those with special diets. Visits increase Visitors served by the Schenectady Inner City Ministry's food pantry from January to October: 2008: 31,133 2009: 32,065 Change: 3 percent increase To see more of the Albany Times Union, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesunion.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Albany Times Union, N.Y. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]