I thought I was on time for my appointment at the Cleveland Foodbank with Ann Shotwell. She comes to the huge warehouse a couple times a week to stock up for the hot meals she cooks at Cleveland's Morningstar Baptist Church. But after nearly three decades in the business, Ms. Shotwell, as everyone here calls her, knows it pays to be early. By the time I walk in to the bright, clean market, she's already scored her best deal: 15 lbs of Dunkin' Donuts coffee.
Ann Shotwell We don't get coffee too often because it costs too much money, But they had coffee here today. And I raided this and for 14 cents a pound, we can have coffee for a while.
Ms. Shotwell gets $250 from the county to feed 150 people a hot, multi-course meal three times a month. She even serves seconds. It's a job this grandmother gets done with free and low-cost food from the Cleveland Food Bank.
Ann Shotwell: No hotdogs. No hamburgers. We always have two meats, potatoes, spaghetti, green beans, corn. We eat a balanced meal.
The number of hungry people getting food from places like Ms. Shotwell's is climbing fast. Last year, local food agencies in Cuyahoga County served a million more people than in 2006. Clevelanders opened 57 new hunger programs last year. Many of them are in the suburbs.
Ann Shotwell: At one time youngsters appeared to be ashamed to come stand in line to eat. But now they open the door and that's because they just don't have it at home now. They used to just make it with whatever bit was at home, but now I have teenagers and I have early 20s that are coming in. And that's something new.
Ms. Shotwell says she's heard lots of reasons why more people are coming in: some say higher food and gas prices. Others say there aren't enough good jobs and people are losing their homes in foreclosure. A report released last month by the Center for Community Solutions says workers are struggling as they move from manufacturing to service jobs. More people are heading to hunger centers from surrounding counties. And, at the same time demand is increasing, food donations are dropping.
Karen Pozna: We used to get things that may have been mislabeled or getting near their expiration date. A lot of times now retailers are selling that product to discount stores
Karen Pozna works at the Cleveland Food Bank. She says the organization will sometimes buy what they need, but the cost of some foods is getting too expensive.
Karen Pozna: We don't buy cheese right now because its not the best buy for us right now .
Anne Shotwell:You never know what they are going to bring in here. I need that ham.
Clerk: Yes ma'm.
A clerk brings over a large ham and puts it next to the coffee. With the growing number of people coming in, Ms. Shotwell likes to keep turkey and ham in the freezer and peanut butter and jelly in the cupboards for emergency sandwiches.
Anne Shotwell: We have hungry people. We don't have that group of people that's eating because you got a free meal somewhere. I have people that needs the food.
This week Ms. Shotwell's serving Italian sausage and potatoes. She's now looking for her sides. Before she leaves she tells people here that they better be on the lookout for green beans for her diners. Mhari Saito, 90.3.