Over the past month, the American economy has collapsed into a depression, with the most significant unemployment spike in history. Millions of people have just lost their jobs, and as we’ve been documenting, food bank networks across the country are becoming overwhelmed.
We recently said that some food banks had seen an eightfold increase in the number of people asking for food. The National Guard has been deployed to food banks in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Phoenix, to make sure supply chains do not breakdown, which if food shortages did materialize, it could lead to a “social bomb,” triggering civil unrest.
“I’ve been in this business over 30 years, and nothing compares to what we’re seeing now. Not even when the steel mills closed down did we see increased demand like this,” said Sheila Christopher, director of Hunger-Free Pennsylvania, which represents 18 food banks across 67 counties.
Today’s food bank lines resemble ‘breadlines’ from the 1930s. However, this time around, Americans are not standing around city blocks waiting for soup, they’re sitting in mile-long traffic jams outside donation centers waiting for a care package.
The run on food banks was first documented on March 30. Drone footage captured a traffic jam of hungry Americans waiting to pick up food aid at a facility in Duquesne, Pennsylvania.
Hundreds of cars wait to receive food from the Greater Community Food Bank in Duquesne. Collection begins at noon. @PghFoodBank @PittsburghPG pic.twitter.com/94YFaO7dqX
— Andrew Rush (@andrewrush) March 30, 2020
As a reminder, to visualize how America went from “the greatest economy ever” to “Greater Depression,” in just one month, take a look at the chart below:
The run on food banks will only increase as the depression worsens in April.
On Monday, a drone captured dramatic footage outside a South Florida food bank that measured “miles-long” row of cars, reported Daily Mail.
The footage is from outside the Feeding South Florida food bank, located in Broward County.
The food bank reports a 600% jump in the number of people in recent weeks as South Florida’s services economy collapsed, resulting in hundreds of thousands of job losses.
Stephen Shelley, president and CEO of Farm Share, which distributes food to food banks, churches, schools, and other nonprofits, said the amount of people asking for food at food banks is unprecedented.
“The volume is at a level we’ve never seen before,” Shelley said, adding that his company is running at full capacity at the moment to handle the demand surge. He said the amount of food that he is moving to keep pace with demand is “overwhelming the system.”
A perfect storm is brewing deep in America, one where overwhelmed food bank networks could see supply chain disruptions that could trigger food shortages in various low-income regions, that would undoubtedly leave many people hangry – and possibly incite social unrest.
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I will add what I read somewhere. There have been hidden breadlines for years! The EBT system can’t respond fast enough to prevent this visible overflow. I suspect the magnitude of this dystopian problem will be covered as soon as possible. There are no measured solutions for We the People. It will take you know.
The problems have been out there in the open, for people who are able to see them. Take a look at the homeless camps in LA, SanFran, Seattle etc. Sad part is that people have refused to see what’s right in front of them. Will this ‘pandemic’ be the catalyst that opens people’s eyes? I hope so, but the cognitive dissonance will be astounding to witness….it already is, in those I interact with.
Yes it’s been hidden. There was a time food stamps were physically used to buy products. Now, it looks like a regular ol’ credit card, so none the wiser. And the system is scammed even further when those cards are used to exchange food for cash.
The Free Shit Army marches on its stomach.
Free shit for anyone and everyone patient enough to sit in line that long.
Advertise free shit with no strings, limits or means testing and that is what you get.
Some mighty nice cars waiting in line for “free” food.
My Daddy used to say “save for a rainy day”. I guess these folks never thought it would ever rain.
Every car in that line is nicer or newer than any car I own and we aren’t anywhere near needing a handout. Probably because we have no debt except the mortgage and don’t spend money on useless shit.
It’s a good thing gas has dropped so it is not more expensive to wait in line for an hour than to buy the food.
Tens of thousands of people have been using food banks as supplementary income. Now with millions not having any income the food banks cannot cope. That said there should never have been food banks.
Well, maybe some of these fat asses will trim down.
food banks, why the F do we even need a government ? except to starve us out ….
I don’t see any lines at the feed stores to buy seeds and fertilizer to make Victory Gardens. The stupid and lazy Urban FSA Democrats have no intention of working in the Sun to grow food or raise livestock. The migrant workers got cut of and the FSA won’t work if they are getting checks to sit at home. SHTF when food banks and grocery stores run dry later this year. The Pilgrims were starving until Capt Smith established the policy of you will eat what you grow. SOS with all Communist countries like the USA.
Food lines in cars…. mostly newer cars…. Explain to me how these people can afford newer cars, and the gas to sit in line for 4 hours, but they can’t afford to feed themselves…….
I have no sympathy for these people whatsoever……
Remember when Americans had too much pride to accept charity, and worked for everything they got? Now we are a bunch of irresponsible entitlement seeking snowflakes who think someone should give us something. It is definitely time for a culling….