Demand at Arrowhead region food shelves up dramatically

There are signs that the recession of the past few years is lifting across some of Minnesota. But demand at food shelves in the northeastern part of the state is soaring.

In the greater Duluth area, demand has increased 47 percent, according to Shaye Moris, who oversees 35 food shelves in the region as Executive Director of Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank in Duluth. She said the numbers started to increase in 2008, but added that she's surprised by this year's increase.

"We have a trickle down effect," she said. "We were late to see the effects of the economy here in our region, and I think we're going to be late to see the effects of a recovery in our region."

In 2008 just under 11,000 people in the Arrowhead region visited food shelves. That number is now up to just over 17,000.

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