Fact 1

35.5 mil people effected, including 12.6 mil kids. (That means nearly 1 in 9 households!)

Fact 2

Every day in the USA, 12.6 mil kids live in homes that don’t always have enough food to eat.

Fact 3

What are the main causes of hunger?  Everyday crisis such as losing a job, unexpected medical emergencies, car repairs and or increased rent that consume the household budget.  Honestly, the dollar isn’t going as far as it used to.  (A pack of gum is now $1.50 in NY!  Jeez!) 

Fact 4

Kids who experience severe hunger are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, behavior problems, and other illness. (Duh!) 

Fact 5

In the past year, requests for emergency food help have skyrocketed.  Food banks are struggling to meet the increased demand.

Fact 6

In the U.S., hunger is tied to race:  42% of African-American kids  and 40% of Latino kids are hungry while 16% of white kids are hungry. (And this is 2007?!)

Fact 7

In 2002, 1 in 2 families who accessed a food pantry at least once during the year had children under 18.

Fact 8

1 in 3 households who have received food from a food pantry, kitchen or shelter had to choose between buying food and paying rent.

Fact 9

22 of 29 cities surveyed report that residents of low-income neighborhoods don’t have “reasonable” access to local supermarkets.

Fact 10

Almost 100 bil pounds of food is thrown away each year by American retailers, restaurants, and farmers.  That’s 263 mil pounds of wasted food per day!  (What?!)

Fact 11

Since 1999 the number of people in poverty has increased from 32,258 million to 36.46 million in 2007.  Millions more Americans are living in poverty today.  (OMG!)

Sources:
USDA, Economic Research Service, 2006
Bread for the World, 2006
America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network
U.S. Census Bureau