One foodbank in California has experienced a 125% increase in demand, with six million more Americans now struggling to pay for food as a result of the coronavirus pandemic
Texans have queued for up to three miles to receive foodbank care packages (Image)
Desperate Americans are forming queues of up to three miles long for foodbanks amid record job losses in the US due to the coronavirus crisis.
The extraordinary queues have been seen in Texas, while in California one foodbank has experienced 125% increase in demand, NBC Nightly News reports.
Across the US almost 24 million Americans are reportedly struggling to afford food, up by six million because of the pandemic.
Milwaukee foodbank boss Sherrie Tussler said: “I’m really afraid that in January there’s not going to be any food.”
It comes as millions of Americans face losing their unemployment benefits at the end of the year unless Congress extends pandemic-related aid programmes.
The looming expiration would spark the most substantial reduction to unemployment benefits since the end of July, when a $600 (£450) weekly supplement expired.
And with coronavirus infections surging, some economists caution that job losses could rise during the winter, increasing the need for support.
The majority of people receiving unemployment benefits are now participating through programmes created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed by Congress in March.
