Need for food surges with so many out of work

With many businesses ordered to close to prevent the spread of coronavirus, a half million or more North Carolinians have been suddenly left without a paycheck. Many charitable organizations that traditionally provide food for families are having trouble keeping up with the increased demand.

"They are trying to pay their bills, they're trying to pay their rent, and you have to do that with money, and a lot of them, when they have to buy food, they're coming up short," said Laura Rice of the Inter-faith Food Shuttle.

There, boxes of food are out the door as fast as they can be packed.

Rice said the organization is sending out about 1,000 emergency food boxes a week. That's a dramatic increase since the coronavirus crisis began.

"We have switched up almost everything we do to meet the needs of our recipients at this time," said Rachel Bearman.

"Oftentimes, the Meals on Wheels volunteers may be the only human contact they have that day," she said.

For organizations like Meals on Wheels and the Inter-faith Food shuttle, the helpers now need a helping hand.

"We need food and money; those are the two big needs," Rice said. "Food is an immediate need, and money helps provide that food in the larger picture."