LANSING – The rise in fuel prices, unemployment, heating bills and health costs have contributed to the increase in demand for food bank assistance in the state.

Over the past year, regional food banks have reported an 18 to 20 percent increase in food distribution, said Jane Marshall, executive director of the Food Bank Council of Michigan.

“The issue we have right now is the demand to fill the need,” Marshall said.

She said demand is much greater than in previous years because of the struggling economy.

“That’s how families make it through the month,” said Ann Marston, president of the Michigan League for Human Services. “Without food stamps and food banks, food runs out and kids go hungry.”

Gerald Brisson, the vice president for development for Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan in Detroit, said his organization distributed 2.2 million more pounds of food from January to September 2007 than the same period of 2006.

And Brisson said that trend has been going on for seven years.

“We expect that’s going to continue for five more years,” he said. “Food bank resources will be stretched.”

Brisson said it’s not only the stereotypical homeless person who needs help. For example, his food bank feeds a lot of single parents and senior citizens who live on a fixed income.

Marshall said one-third of the people served by food banks have jobs.

“It’s all about having enough resources to make ends meet,” she said.

Marston said food banks and other food providers fill a vital need.

“With more and more Michigan families qualifying for food assistance, and knowing that food assistance won’t cover everything, it’s crucial that we have emergency help from food banks, churches and other places,” she said.

Laura Porter-Keller, a branch manager for the North West Gleaners Food Bank in Cadillac, said food banks are “the hub behind the scene.”

Michigan has 14 regional food banks that supply more than 2,500 local agencies such as pantries, soup kitchens, churches, homeless and domestic violence shelters and Head Start programs. Agencies pay about 10 cents per pound for food.

Porter-Keller said food banks generally see an increase in demand during the winter months.

Times are hard as it is without the holidays approaching, Porter-Keller said.

Brisson said, “You don’t need to be wealthy to impact hunger.”

A contribution of just a $1 could provide three meals, he added.

For more information, visit www.feedmichigan.org