Hurricane Ike doubles demand for food aid

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) - Being hungry in Galveston County is more of a reality since Hurricane Ike.

Charitable agencies in Galveston, Brazoria and Chambers counties say demand for food aid has doubled since Ike made landfall in September 2008.

Mark Davis with Gleanings From the Harvest for Galveston is pushing to create a food bank in Galveston County, an effort especially needed during the tough economic times.

Spokeswoman Betsy Ballard says the increase in hunger is reflected throughout the more than one dozen other counties also served by the Houston Food Bank.

Ballard told the Houston Chronicle that these are "people who are newly impoverished."

Davis says a vacant city-owned building in Texas City will house what he describes as Galveston County's first food bank.

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Information from: Houston Chronicle,

http://www.houstonchronicle.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)