Churches see struggles, selflessness in economic recession

In a normal week, 40 or 50 people come to the Upper Marlboro Food Bank in Trinity Episcopal Church. But the normal weeks ended sometime in September, according to Martha Bonwitt, the church's pastor.

Now the food bank feeds about 60 people a week, she said. But unlike most charitable organizations in recent months, donations to the food bank have increased even as the church's overall budget became uncertain, highlighting a combination of dwindling resources and increased giving many church leaders say is a common trend.