Hunger Study / Local Stats

Key findings of the Hunger in America 2010 Study

The hunger study includes data collected from February through June, 2009. The Foodbank conducted face-to-face interviews with 316 people seeking emergency food at food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs, as well as interviews with more than 75 agencies that provide food assistance.

The Foodbank provides emergency food for an estimated 70,000 different people annually

40% of the members of households served by The Foodbank are children under 18 years old

23% of households include at least one employed adult

79% have incomes below the federal poverty level

Among all client households served by emergency food programs of The Foodbank, 87% are food insecure*

Among households with children, 88% are food insecure and 41% are food insecure with very low food security**

38% of clients served by The Foodbank report having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities or heating fuel

31% had to choose between paying for food and paying their rent or mortgage

32% had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care

33% had to choose between paying for food and paying for transportation

28% had to choose between paying for food and paying for gas for a car

26% of households served by The Foodbank report having at least one household member in poor health

As many as 93% of pantries, 93% of kitchens, and 62% of shelters in The Foodbank use volunteers

Many programs rely entirely on volunteers; 78% of pantry programs and 53% of kitchens have no paid staff at all

* Low or very low food security
** Access to enough food is limited by a lack of money and other resources

Feeding America, 2005 / 2007 Report - Child Food Insecurity in The United States