According to the new findings reported in Hunger in America 2010, 37 million people, one in eight Americans, are receiving emergency food assistance through the Feeding America network. Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio is one of over two hundred food banks nationwide. In the region served by Second Harvest, one in six people are receiving emergency
food assistance through one of our member agencies.
Locally, this is an increase of 134 percent over the findings reported four years ago in Hunger in America 2006, which was based on data collected in 2005. Second Harvest is feeding 5,000 more people each week.
Hunger in America 2010 is a scientific study conducted with more than 61,000 face-to-face client interviews and more than 37,000 surveys of local charitable agencies nationwide by Feeding America. Locally Second Harvest conducted 375 face-to-face client interviews and surveyed 102 member hunger-relief agencies in the four-county region we serve.
The results of Hunger in America 2010 should be discomforting. It is difficult to understand how people living in this land of plenty can have to make decisions between paying for food or other household necessities. It is troubling that children and seniors, the country's most vulnerable citizens, may have to forgo their most basic need — the need for food because of a lack of resources. People are making tough choices.
Hunger in America 2010 - Summary
Hunger in America 2010 - Full Report
To view the national study go to www.hungerinamerica.org
