Foodbank faces shortage before holidays

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - At Norfolk's New Life Christian Center, the search for places to put food gets easier as the struggle to bring in food gets harder.

With Thanksgiving only a week away, food stocks are down, the result of a slumping economy that's left more people looking for work.

And looking for food.

Mike Powers lost his job as a commercial roofer this summer. Now the father of two who just celebrated twelve years of marriage relies on the church for food as they rely on him for work.

"They've given us food a couple times," said Powers. "I come here and volunteer and they send me home with a box of food or maybe a couple bags."

Food banks across the country will struggle through this holiday season as the number of families in need keeps rising.

"They need everything," said Reverend Rodney Hammond. "Meats. Vegetables. Dry goods. Not only that, but we have a clothing closet, so they come for clothing too."

The 13th Annual Mayflower Marathon Food Drive will collect food and donations for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula.

Here in Hampton Roads, it'll be even more difficult after the November Nor'easter sent food supplies backwards when they're needed most.

"We're actually seeing staggering numbers," said Loretta Jones of the Peninsula Foodbank.

"We're going farther to find food. We're paying more to find food. But we're getting less for those dollars."

This season of giving, food banks hope they have something to give.