'It's unlike anything I've seen in 20 years'
SEATTLE -- These days, the lines are longer at the Georgetown food bank.
Some 9,000 clients visit the bank each month -- that's more than twice last year's numbers.
"All of a sudden, I woke up and don't have a job, don't have a home, don't have nothing," said Naomy Kirsh.
"I'm hungry a lot and my stomach starts to growl," said 6-year-old Abel Sjodin.
Sjodin came to line up at the food bank with his stepdad while his mom works. Sjodin's stepdad, Garren Lester, says he himself has skipped meals to make sure Sjodin doesn't go hungry.
"Kind of makes you want to cry when your child tells you he's hungry, and all you got is 75 cents or a few dollars in your pocket, you know," he said.
A new report by the state Department of Agriculture states one in four kids live in a home struggling with hunger.
"It's tiresome to wake up and know there's nothing in your refrigerator," said Lester.
Tough times are forcing many past food donors to become first-time food bank clients.
This is a critical time for Northwest Harvest. November and December are the busiest months of giving, and can make or break the year. But Northwest Harvest has gotten 50 percent less than it had expected financially.
"It's unlike anything I've seen in 20 years. The number of people coming has skyrocketed," said Shelley Rotonto of Northwest Harvest.
As donors drop and demand rises, Sjodin is learning a tough lesson.
"The Pop Tart was so good. All white and had sprinkles on top. And I'm gonna save this for later," he said.
Even the young are learning how to make the little they have last just a bit longer.
Some 9,000 clients visit the bank each month -- that's more than twice last year's numbers.
"All of a sudden, I woke up and don't have a job, don't have a home, don't have nothing," said Naomy Kirsh.
"I'm hungry a lot and my stomach starts to growl," said 6-year-old Abel Sjodin.
Sjodin came to line up at the food bank with his stepdad while his mom works. Sjodin's stepdad, Garren Lester, says he himself has skipped meals to make sure Sjodin doesn't go hungry.
"Kind of makes you want to cry when your child tells you he's hungry, and all you got is 75 cents or a few dollars in your pocket, you know," he said.
A new report by the state Department of Agriculture states one in four kids live in a home struggling with hunger.
"It's tiresome to wake up and know there's nothing in your refrigerator," said Lester.
Tough times are forcing many past food donors to become first-time food bank clients.
This is a critical time for Northwest Harvest. November and December are the busiest months of giving, and can make or break the year. But Northwest Harvest has gotten 50 percent less than it had expected financially.
"It's unlike anything I've seen in 20 years. The number of people coming has skyrocketed," said Shelley Rotonto of Northwest Harvest.
As donors drop and demand rises, Sjodin is learning a tough lesson.
"The Pop Tart was so good. All white and had sprinkles on top. And I'm gonna save this for later," he said.
Even the young are learning how to make the little they have last just a bit longer.