Apr 9, 2020 - Economy

In photos: Food banks demand surges amid coronavirus crisis

Rebecca Falconer

People wait on line standing in squares six-feet apart at the Nourish Pierce County food bank — People wait on line standing in squares 6 feet apart at a food bank in Edgewood, Washington, April 4. Photo: Karen Ducey/Getty Images

There's been an upsurge in demand for food banks across the U.S. because of the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Why it matters: Feeding America, the largest network of food banks in the U.S., projects a $1.4 billion shortfall over the next six months. "School closures, rising unemployment and rising poverty due to quarantine and stay-at-home orders will disproportionately impact people already at risk of hunger and could result in an estimated additional 17.1 million people experiencing food insecurity, an increase of 46%," the nonprofit said in a statement.

Jose Martinez waits in line next to his car to receive groceries provided by the food bank Feeding South Florida and distributed by the City of Sunrise on April 06 — Long lines to receive groceries provided by Feeding South Florida, April 6. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Volunteers prepare to pack boxes of food to be distributed to those in need at the Capital Area Food Bank on April 1, 2020 in Washington, DC. — Volunteers distribute food in Harlem, New York, March 28. Demand for food pantries in the city has doubled, per WABC-TV. Photo: Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images

A member of the Ohio National Guard helps to pack food and supplies for those in need at the Mid Ohio Foodbank in Columbus. — The National Guard has been deployed to assist food banks in Washington state and Louisiana, and in cities across the U.S., including in Columbus, where a member of the Ohio National Guard helps out at the Mid Ohio Foodbank, March 31. Photo: Matthew Hatcher/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Second Harvest volunteers work a pop-up food distribution line at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA — Second Harvest volunteers work a pop-up food distribution line at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, March 21. Photo: Mindy Schauer/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Volunteers prepare to pack boxes of food to be distributed to those in need at the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, DC. — Volunteers prepare to pack boxes of food to be distributed to those in need at the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C., April 1. Photo: Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images

People wait to receive boxes of food assistance from the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida — The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida in Orlando, which said it provided 2.5 million meals for people in the past two weeks, April 6. Photo: Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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In photos: Food banks demand surges amid coronavirus crisis

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