Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest), a national hunger-relief charity, conducted a local impact survey of 160 food banks in the U.S. in 2008. All of the food banks reported an increase in demand for food over the past year, with estimated increases ranging from 29% to 38%. Almost all reported seeing more first-time food bank users. Food banks report an unprecedented level of need and a shift in the demographics of food bank users as many formerly food secure people have started to request assistance.