Although economists say the recession is over, the recovery will take months, if not a few years.
And the Olathe Salvation Army Food Pantry continues to see an increase in people needing help during these difficult times. The need, however, has changed in recent months.
"We're seeing people we normally don't serve," said Mindia McManness, volunteer coordinator for the Olathe Salvation Army. "They call us not knowing even how to get help because they've never needed it before. They don't know where to begin."
They;ve lost their jobs or are experiencing other difficulties because of the floundering financial markets.
"They've run out savings or maxed out credit cards, something that usually helped them through short-term difficulties in the past," McManness said.
This recession has gone on much longer than expected, and the impending recovery will take even longer, leading to a new pool of people needing assistance.
Shelves once filled with canned corn, spaghetti noodles, chili, pork and beans or peanut butter and jelly are empty more frequently, and tight food supplies have become the rule, not the exception, all around the metro area.
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