Food Bank Usage Up

The Ontario Association of Food Banks says there's been a record increase in the number of people turning to food banks in the province since last fall.

The group says the economic downturn has made this its most difficult year, with the number of people served reaching historic highs.

There's been a 19 per cent spike in the number of people turning to food banks since last year _ compared with an increase of 11 percent in 2008 and 10 per cent during the 90s recession.

In all, the association says 375,000 Ontario residents use food banks each month, even though one third of people in those households are employed.

Many food banks have not been able to meet the increased demand,with one in four reducing the amount of food distributed in their hampers.

The group is calling on the province to review its social assistance rules and create a farm donation tax credit for producers who support local food banks.