The new working poor, as well as more families with young children, are threatening to overwhelm New York City's last hunger safety net.

The one million-plus needy New Yorkers of today could, according to those experienced in feeding the poor, explode into tomorrow's three million hungry mouths with nowhere else to turn.

In 2007, even before the current financial meltdown hit, approximately 1.3 million New Yorkers depended on soup kitchens and food pantries.

one in four New Yorkers said they lacked savings to fall back on and, if they lost their jobs, would be in immediate need of food assistance.

If, however, charitable foundations continue to buckle under the stresses of the deepening depression and philanthropic foundations cut back on their grants even as businesses shrink their charitable giving, that tsunami of hunger Carlos Rodriguez fears may be heading for New York.