Food is flying off the shelves at the Springfield United Methodist Mission Center. The church is just one of 150 agencies the bay area food bank services and with Americans already having strained budgets.

"With the unemployment rate in panama city well above seven percent right now the times are extremely difficult," Paul Clements, of the bay area food bank said.

With more and more people losing their jobs, food pantries across America can't keep the shelves stocked. Simply put, the demand far outweighs the supply. Panama City’s food demand is up 3o%. Janet Bagwell is just one of many people who is feeling that pinch. She's disabled and her cost of living just went up $30.

"I got a letter last week saying they were dropping my food stamps from $42 to $25 because of the cost of living increase," Bagwell said.
It's a nightmare that's becoming a reality for a lot people.

"This food bank is very important for me to be able to eat through the month," Bagwell said.

Carolyn Taylor works at the mission center and says the tough economy is bringing in new faces. Just last month, she said 27 new families were coming and getting food. On-top of the 75 families the mission already serves per week.

"We have to be careful so that we have enough food for the entire month," Taylor said, and it's even affecting those who help the mission.
"Some of them that were giving money we're seeing their faces here you know coming through getting food. That speaks very loudly,"

Taylor said, and for the unspoken people, the diminishing food supply could be forcing them to go to bed on empty stomachs.

If you would like to donate to the local food agencies, you can make donations to the bay area food bank.

Bay area food bank: 888-704-3663

Springfield United Methodist Church: 769-0374