Did you know THE STATISTICS about hunger in America ? Foodbanks

United States
March 28, 2009 2:34pm CST
This site accepts donations for anyone wanting to help. http://feedingamerica.org/faces-of-hunger/hunger-101/hunger-and-poverty-statistics.aspx Hunger and Poverty StatisticsPoverty[1] In 2007, 37.3 million people (12.5%) were in poverty. In 2007, 7.6 (9.8%) million families were in poverty. In 2007, 20.3 million (10.9%) of people aged 18-64 were in poverty. In 2007, 13.3 million (18%) children under the age of 18 were in poverty. In 2007, 3.6 million (9.7%) seniors 65 and older were in poverty. Food Insecurity and Very Low Food Security[2] In 2007, 36.2 million Americans lived in food insecure households, 23.8 million adults and 12.4 million children. In 2007, 11.1 percent of households (13 million households) were food insecure, a statistically insignificant increase from 10.9 percent (12.6 million households) in 2006. In 2007, 4.1 percent of households (4.7 million households) experienced very low food security, a statistically insignificant increase from 4 percent in 2006. In 2007, households with children reported food insecurity at almost double the rate for those without children, 15.8 percent compared to 8.7 percent. In 2007, households that were more likely to experience food insecurity were households with children (15.8%), households with children headed by single women (30.2 percent) or single men (18 percent), households with incomes below the poverty line (37.7 percent), Black non-Hispanic households (22.2 percent) and Hispanic households (20.1 percent). In 2007, 6.5 percent of households with seniors (1.7 million households) were food insecure (low food security and very low food security), a statistically significant increase from 6 percent (1.5 million households) in 2006. Use of Emergency Food Assistance and Federal Food Assistance Programs In 2007, 3.4 percent of all U.S. households (3.9 million households) accessed emergency food from a food pantry one or more times.2 In 2007, food insecure (low food security or very low food security) households were 17 times more likely than food-secure households to have obtained food from a food pantry.2 In 2007, food insecure (low food security or very low food security) households were 19 times more likely than food-secure households to have eaten a meal at an emergency kitchen.2 In 2007, 53.9 percent of food-insecure households participated in at least one of the three major Federal food assistance programs – Food Stamp Program, The National School Lunch Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.2 Feeding America provides emergency food assistance to an estimated 25 million low-income people annually, an 8 percent increase from 23 million since Hunger In America 2001.[3] Feeding America provides emergency food assistance to approximately 4.5 million different people in any given week.3 Among members of Feeding America, 65 percent of pantries, 61 percent of kitchens, and 52 percent of shelters reported that there had been an increase since 2001 in the number of clients who come to their emergency food program sites.3 Top Eleven States in Prevalence of Food Insecurity, Average 2005-2007[4] U.S. 11.0 percent AR 14.4 percent GA 13.0 percent KS 13.0 percent KY 12.7 percent ME 13.3 percent MO 12.9 percent MS 17.4 percent NM 15.0 percent OK 13.0 percent SC 13.1 percent TX 14.8 percent --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 responses
• United States
29 Mar 09
its amazing people dont relize this. i have been homeless before. no shelters for me to go to no where for me to turn. it was hard. not proud but i had to steal food cause there was no where for me to go. finally i got lucky and a lady at a resturant offerred me a job and put me in a motel for a week till i could start getting tips to pay for it myself. that and i could eat while i was at work. i am in a bad spot now too. we just moved , jobs fell through right after we got moved. i applied for help but i have to get letters from the jobs we had before we moved here. that is a long drive and cant afford the gas. not sure what i am going to do now. i have 2 kids and they can only live on oatmeal, rice, and noodles for so long. i am looking for jobs like crazy. we used income tax to get moved and that is pretty much gone now. yea i am one of those percents up there. i havent been in this spot for 13 years now and i am back to it. it is scary cause it is not just me anymore. i fought to get out of it before and will again.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Mar 09
I know that the actual numbers are higher now then what is shown on that list. It is obvious that they will be increasing. It is a blessing that these food banks are there for everyone. You can type in your zipcode and pull up the nearest location to get food. I also think that people should check to see how many different ones are available in their area. There are many church pantries and Salavation Army also does give food. I am not sure on all the locations. Some families and people may need more then jut one place or one trip a month.
• United States
28 Mar 09
What a wonderful thing you've done by posting this! I intend to do all I can. We hear so much about need in the rest of the world, but most people don't think about the hungry right here in the US. I'll also promote this, big-time, at work. Why aren't all the big celebs adopting needy American kids? Nothing against those in other countries, but the need here is greater than most people know.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Mar 09
Yes, these food banks help the people here. It iis a wonderful program. They can go to the website and type in their zipcode and fins out where to go to get food. Thank God, there are still foodbanks.