By Recession forces more Ala. families apply for assistance
Montgomery, AL – - The story of the recession in Alabama is
being told at mealtime.
State statistics show there was a nearly 25 percent increase in
families receiving food assistance in the last year. And there has
been a 5.6 percent increase in public school students receiving
free or reduced-price lunches.
The state welfare agency reports there were nearly 741,000
Alabamians receiving food assistance in August. That's nearly one
in six Alabamians.
More than 411,000 children get free or reduced-price lunches in
public schools. That's about 56 percent of students.
The rise mirrors Alabama's unemployment rate, which went from
5.7 percent in October 2008 to 10.9 percent in October 2009.