According to Feeding America, 1 in 9 Americans struggles with hunger. In 2019, 35,207,000 people were food insecure. Food insecurity exists in every county in America. Millions of people are still struggling to get by because of underemployment, stagnant wages and the rising cost of living. To these Americans, food has become an unaffordable luxury.
In 2019, 10.9% (13.7 million) American households were food insecure with limited or uncertain access to enough food. (Source: USDA)
Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and need to rely on their local food banks and other hunger relief organizations for support.
According to the Feeding America Hunger Study 2014, 57% of client households served by Feeding America food banks said 66% had to choose between medical care and food, and 69% had to choose between utilities and food.
In the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Report on Hunger and Homelessness (A Status Report on Homelessness and Hunger in America’s Cities, December 2016) it was noted:
America has more than enough food to feed everyone. But our abundance is accompanied by tremendous waste. By some estimates, nearly half of the food grown, processed and transported in the U.S. goes to waste. (Source: Feeding America)
In 2019, 10.9% (13.7 million) American households were food insecure with limited or uncertain access to enough food. (Source: USDA)
Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and need to rely on their local food banks and other hunger relief organizations for support.
According to the Feeding America Hunger Study 2014, 57% of client households served by Feeding America food banks said 66% had to choose between medical care and food, and 69% had to choose between utilities and food.
In the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Report on Hunger and Homelessness (A Status Report on Homelessness and Hunger in America’s Cities, December 2016) it was noted:
- Forty-one percent of survey cities reported that the number of requests for emergency food assistance increased over the past year.
- Of the requests for emergency food assistance, 63 percent were persons in families, 51 percent were employed, 18 percent were elderly, and 8 percent were homeless. (These categories are not mutually exclusive and the same person can be included in more than one.)
America has more than enough food to feed everyone. But our abundance is accompanied by tremendous waste. By some estimates, nearly half of the food grown, processed and transported in the U.S. goes to waste. (Source: Feeding America)
Children and Hunger
In America, 1 in 6 children may not know where they will get their next meal. For the nearly 13 million kids in the U.S. facing hunger, getting the energy they need to learn and grow can be a day-in, day-out challenge.
In 2019 more than 5.3 million children live in households struggling with hunger. Approximately 25% of children in households at risk of hunger may be forced to rely exclusively on hunger relief organizations to make ends meet.
Although food insecurity is harmful to any individual, it can be particularly devastating among children due to their increased vulnerability and the potential for long-term consequences. Children who are denied an adequate diet are at a greater risk than other low income children of not reaching their full potential as individuals. Children who are undernourished have trouble concentrating and bonding with other children and are more likely to suffer illnesses that force them to be absent from school. They consistently perform more poorly on standardized tests. Poor performance early in school is a major risk factor for dropping out of school in later years. According to labor statistics, educational attainment is perhaps the greatest indicator of job and income mobility, so the impact of childhood hunger can be lifelong. Studies have also shown time and time again that even mildly undernourished children may potentially suffer abnormal brain, cognitive, and psychological impairment that, if not corrected, can be irreversible.
In 2019 more than 5.3 million children live in households struggling with hunger. Approximately 25% of children in households at risk of hunger may be forced to rely exclusively on hunger relief organizations to make ends meet.
Although food insecurity is harmful to any individual, it can be particularly devastating among children due to their increased vulnerability and the potential for long-term consequences. Children who are denied an adequate diet are at a greater risk than other low income children of not reaching their full potential as individuals. Children who are undernourished have trouble concentrating and bonding with other children and are more likely to suffer illnesses that force them to be absent from school. They consistently perform more poorly on standardized tests. Poor performance early in school is a major risk factor for dropping out of school in later years. According to labor statistics, educational attainment is perhaps the greatest indicator of job and income mobility, so the impact of childhood hunger can be lifelong. Studies have also shown time and time again that even mildly undernourished children may potentially suffer abnormal brain, cognitive, and psychological impairment that, if not corrected, can be irreversible.
Seniors and Hunger
Approximately 7.3 million older adults are food insecure in the United States. (Source: National Council on Aging) The number of seniors age 60 and older struggling with hunger has increased 38% since 2001. The number of older adults struggling with hunger will increase when the youngest of the baby-boom generation reaches 60 in 2025.
For seniors, protecting oneself from food insecurity and hunger is more difficult than for the general population. Seniors require greater consideration towards their health and medical needs that can become compromised when there is not enough food to eat. A study which examined the health and nutritional status of seniors found that food insecure seniors had significantly lower intakes of vital nutrients in their diets when compared to their food secure counterparts. Food insecure seniors are at increased risk for chronic health conditions, even when controlling for other factors such as income:
- In 2017, 28.7% of seniors living below the poverty line were food insecure. For seniors living between 100% and 200% of the poverty line the food insecurity rate was 17.6%.
- A particular problem for impoverished elderly households is their inability to change their low income status. The elderly are considerably less likely to move out of poverty than are non-elderly adults.
For seniors, protecting oneself from food insecurity and hunger is more difficult than for the general population. Seniors require greater consideration towards their health and medical needs that can become compromised when there is not enough food to eat. A study which examined the health and nutritional status of seniors found that food insecure seniors had significantly lower intakes of vital nutrients in their diets when compared to their food secure counterparts. Food insecure seniors are at increased risk for chronic health conditions, even when controlling for other factors such as income:
- 78% are more likely to experience depression
- 40% are more likely to experience chest pain
- 55% are more likely to develop asthma
- 10% are more likely to experience high blood pressure
- 21% are more likely to experience limitations in activity
Poverty and the Working Poor
Approximately 34.0 million people, or 10.5 percent of the nation’s population, lived below the official poverty level in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In 2019, 6.5 million families were living below the poverty level despite having at least one member in the labor force for half the year or more.
In the U.S., hunger is not caused by a scarcity of food, but rather the continued prevalence of poverty. Any one of us, or our friends or family members could experience hunger due to job loss, wage reduction or increased health care expenses.
In 2019, 6.3 million individuals were among the “working poor” according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In the U.S., families with very low incomes run out of money at the end of the month. Families cut back on how much they eat and then eventually skip meals altogether on some days. While more than half (54%) of all client households have a member that has worked for pay in the past 12 months, these households still experience difficulties in meeting their basic needs. Limited hours, changes in employment status, low incomes, and competing household expenses are some of the common challenges. (Source: Feeding America)
The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Report on Hunger and Homelessness (A Status Report on Homelessness and Hunger in America’s Cities, December 2016) indicated low wages led the list of causes of hunger cited by survey cities; followed by high housing costs and poverty.
In 2019, 6.5 million families were living below the poverty level despite having at least one member in the labor force for half the year or more.
In the U.S., hunger is not caused by a scarcity of food, but rather the continued prevalence of poverty. Any one of us, or our friends or family members could experience hunger due to job loss, wage reduction or increased health care expenses.
In 2019, 6.3 million individuals were among the “working poor” according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In the U.S., families with very low incomes run out of money at the end of the month. Families cut back on how much they eat and then eventually skip meals altogether on some days. While more than half (54%) of all client households have a member that has worked for pay in the past 12 months, these households still experience difficulties in meeting their basic needs. Limited hours, changes in employment status, low incomes, and competing household expenses are some of the common challenges. (Source: Feeding America)
The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Report on Hunger and Homelessness (A Status Report on Homelessness and Hunger in America’s Cities, December 2016) indicated low wages led the list of causes of hunger cited by survey cities; followed by high housing costs and poverty.
FHFH Can Help
Many food banks, food pantries and feeding ministries tell us that fresh meat is one of the hardest commodities to acquire due to it's high cost ($3 - $5 per pound). It is also more difficult to donate frozen meat. Since venison is low in fat, naturally nutritious and costs about $.25 per serving, it is a perfect low cost substitute for other meats. Additionally, most venison donations go to feed the hungry in the county where the deer was harvested. By supporting FHFH, you provide the help needed to create a bridge between donated venison (a renewable food resource), and the hungry within our communities.
Click here to find out more about how the FHFH ministry works.
Click here to find out more about how the FHFH ministry works.
Hunger Related Links
Bread For the World
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Feeding America
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Farm Share
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Food Research & Action Center
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Meals on Wheels
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