(dramatic music) - I'm Starla Sampaco, in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.

Seattle Food banks are being hit hard by inflation, low donations and rising demand.

During the pandemic, a drastically higher number of Seattle-ites turned to food banks.

And that demand has continued, even as broader health and economic conditions have improved.

The Rainier Valley Food Bank nearly doubled its clientele, from about 600 people a week pre-pandemic, to more than 1,000 in-person visits and home deliveries.

(light music) Ballard Food Bank spent about $300,000 on yearly groceries before the pandemic.

This year they plan to spend 1.5 million dollars.

Unhoused residents are far from the only people who need help.

According to Northwest Harvest, the vast majority of food bank clients are actually housed, and many are working several jobs to make ends meet.

I'm Starla Sampaco.

Find nonprofit Northwest news every day on crosscut.com.

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