Hungry, jobless Americans turning to food banks to survive pandemic

American families slammed by the coronavirus pandemic are turning more and more to food banks to get by, waiting hours for donations in lines of cars stretching as far as the eye can see.

And with 22 million people out of work seemingly overnight as business after business closes under the Great Lockdown, these charities feeding hungry and scared people fear the day will come when they cannot cope with the tsunami of demand.

On Tuesday, for instance, some 1,000 cars lined up at a distribution center set up in Pennsylvania by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Demand for its bags of food soared nearly 40 per cent in March.

At eight centers like that one, some 227 tonnes of food were placed in the trunks of cars of families suddenly unable to put meals on the table, said the organisation's vice president Brian Gulish.

"A lot of people are utilising our service for the first time. They've never turned to a food bank before," said Gulish. So they do not know there is a network of