Despite Economic “Recovery” Foods Banks Can’t Meet Demand

Since at least 2010, economists have been telling us that our nation is recovering and all is well. Our jobs are coming back, GDP growth is back on its previous course, and the stock market is booming. But at the end of the day, those numbers don’t mean squat when so many people are still struggling to feed themselves.

AP reports that despite our supposed economic recovery, the number of people who need food assistance continues to climb across the United States. One food bank in Massachusetts has experienced a 7.6% increase in food distribution over the past year, while a New Mexico food bank had a 15% increase. Iowa’s “Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry Network” has seen a 20% increase over two years, causing them to reduce the amount of food they give out to their 12 food banks.

The crux of the issue seems to stem from the fact that our supposed recovery has been terrible. While there has been some increase in the number of jobs, they don’t pay nearly the same amount as the jobs they replaced. This is leaving low-income families with a rather absurd problem. They now make just enough money to be disqualified from the food stamp program, but not enough to actually pay their bills. While over 2 million people have dropped out of the food stamp program since 2013, wages are still pretty much stagnant, and the cost of living continues to grow.

Does this sound like an economic recovery to you?