U.S. Charity Accelerating Plans Due to Recession

"We're seeing demand (for services) up across the country north of 30 percent," she said, adding that more than half of the increase were people who had not visited a food bank before.

Feeding America officials pointed to the nearly 32 million Americans on food stamps in December -- or more than one of every 10 Americans -- as the highest rate ever. And unemployment, at 8.1 percent, will only continue to rise in the short term, Escarra said.