WAILUKU — The Maui Food Bank is assisting 3,000 more clients per month this year than last year as more people need help getting food because of layoffs, business closings and reduced work hours, The Maui News reported.

"Last year, the food bank was serving 7,000 people per month. And now, we're serving 10,000 people per month," said Marlene Rice, director of development and community relations.

Rice said officials have seen the jump in clients since the beginning of the year because "so many people are out of work."

In addition, the food bank has taken on at least 12 more agencies that help distribute food to the needy.

The Maui Food Bank has 70 member agencies, which collectively have more than 100 food programs.

To help with the rising numbers of hungry residents, Rice and other food bank officials are hoping that the community donates generously in the upcoming 17th annual National Association of Letter Carriers National Food Drive on May 9.

The drive to "Stamp Out Hunger" is the largest one-day food drive in the nation, according to the association.

The campaign involves letter carriers picking up donations as they deliver the mail. Postcard reminders are also being sent out in the mail.

Last year, the drive collected a record 73 million pounds of food nationally. In Hawaii, 576,533 pounds were collected and of that total, 67,000 pounds were collected on Maui. In 2007, Maui residents donated 26,206 pounds of food.

Maui Food Bank Executive Director Richard Yust said he has seen more single parents needing food, many tapping the agency's food resources for the first time. In addition to layoffs and workers having hours reduced, people also are reporting fewer secondary jobs that help supplement incomes.

For more Maui news, visit www.mauinews.com.