BOISE -- Normally, the number of free meals served by the Boise Rescue Mission drops in the summer; but that's not happening this summer because of the sick economy and runaway unemployment.

In fact, Mission administrators say the numbers of people seeking food assistance are at a record high for the time of year.

At the River of Life site on 13th Street in Boise alone, the Mission is serving 100 meals more a day than in a typical summer week.

And at its three Valley locations (River of Life and City Light Home for Women and Children in Boise, and the Lighthouse Mission in Nampa), the Boise Rescue Mission served more meals this March and April than during the traditional peak months of November and December three years ago.

"If this trend continues, we'll break all records this year," said Bill Roscoe, Mission director. "The numbers typically go down this time of year, but that's not happening this summer."

The increase in people relying on the Boise Rescue Mission for food comes as the number of people applying for food stamps jumped statewide.

"We're seeing people coming in who have never qualified for food stamps before," said Emily Simnitt with the Department of Health and Welfare.

State officials say more than 151,000 people qualified for food assistance in May, compared to nearly 100,000 at the same time last year.

The state Department of Health and Welfare says enrollment in the Idaho food stamp program has set a new record every month since December 2007.

The agency says more than 11,600 people enrolled in the program this year between the months of April and May, according to the most recent information available.

These numbers are also expected to increase after eligibility rules that barred residents with more than $2,000 in assets from qualifying for food assistance were temporarily suspended June 1.