When banks are in trouble food charities' cupboards go bare

Climbing public demand for assistance from food banks is being met with the reality that they have less and less to give. Fueled both by uncertain economic times and the corn-ethanol industry, the rising price of commodities has put the squeeze on these charitable organizations as food gets turned into fuel and exporting against a weak U.S. dollar becomes more attractive. Both of these factors have tapped into surpluses that have traditionally helped feed the needy. To make up for the losses, food banks are buying in food and even trading surplus goods with other food banks in other regions of the country.
 
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