New York City Snowstorm Reduces Ranks at Food Pantry

Once a month when St. Francis Xavier church near Manhattan's Union Square opens its food pantry in the basement, Mercedes Cruz takes a number and lines up outside with her cart. Last summer, Cruz arrived at the church at 6 a.m. -- four hours before the pantry opens -- and there already were 18 people ahead of her. This Saturday though, after the area was hit by a blizzard that brought 12 inches of snow to some parts of the city, Cruz headed over to the church at 9:45 a.m. and still managed to be...