The U.S. Conference of Mayors surveyed 25 cities between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008. Most cities (95%) reported an increase in demand for emergency food over the past year. All cities with data reported an increase in first-time users of food assistance, including working families. Furthermore, cities reported that increases in food assistance distributed did not keep pace with increased demand, which averaged 18% across the cities surveyed (not weighted by city size).
http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/documents/hungerhomelessnessreport_121208.pdf