CLEVELAND — It’s a well oiled machine. Families in need drive to the Muni Lot in Cleveland, sit in line for awhile and when it's their turn, members of the National Guard place food for the week in their trunk.
"It’s best to use what we can get and not be overwhelmed by the fact that their isn’t enough,” said Shannon Yeager, a mom who depends on donations.
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank has been doing this once a week for a month now.
For Thursday’s 2:00pm distribution, Raymond George was one of the first people parked in line.
"I was actually here since 9:30 this morning waiting,” George said. "The line, look at the line it's long.”
George who has never been to a food bank before, said this speaks to how much of a lifeline food banks are right now.
"I have no income coming in due to my job and this food bank will help my family,” he said.
Last week the Greater Cleveland Food Bank served 2,600 families at its drive-thru food distribution.
Monday they planned to aid 4,000 people—triple the number of folks who needed help a month ago.
"The scariest thing about this from where I sit is the rapid growth in need. Everywhere we look there are more people in need everyday and the demand is rising everyday,” said Greater Cleveland Food Bank President and CEO Kristin Warzocha.
She said their supplies are diminishing.
"Right now we’ve got about three-and-a-half weeks of food in stock, but its moving very quickly out of our warehouse,” Warzocha said.
Warzocha said 12 food banks across Ohio have asked the state for $25 million to help them keep up with demand.
"This need is not going to wane anytime soon. We’re planning through September and that might not be long enough,” she said.
To learn more about the Greater Cleveland Food Bank click here.
