http://66.225.205.104/LM20091118.mp3
A government report released this week indicates hunger is at a 14 year high nationwide. Charlotte is coping with the same trend. WFAE's Lisa Miller has more: So far this year Charlotte-area food pantry Loaves and Fishes has served about 82,000 people. That's a 42 percent increase from two years ago. Loaves and Fishes Director Beverly Howard says about a third of the people were first-timers and many were children. "That's almost 40 percent of the people were helping, which tells us once again that we're helping families who are in crisis situations," says Howard. Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools says more than half of its students now qualify for free and discounted lunches based on family income. That number is 51 percent this year compared to 48 percent in 2008.