Listen to James' story. Audio Producer: Natasha Del Toro

James Koester works as the warehouse manager at Catholic Charities. He is in charge of all of the food that is received and sorted for donations to families in need. He says he has seen the number of families coming to pick up free food increase in recent years. He knows first hand the challenges many of these families are facing.

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"Another family's building burned, but they remained in the fire-damaged structure for several months paying full rent, because they could not afford to move."

- Making Ends Meet: How Single Mothers Survive Welfare and Low-Wage Work, by Kathryn Edin and Laura Lein