Hunger Study 2010 prepared for West Central Florida
Landmark New Study Reveals an Unprecedented Number of West Central Floridians Seeking Emergency Food Assistance
Largest, Most Comprehensive Report Ever Conducted On Emergency Food Distribution Profiles the Face of Hunger, Impact of Rising Unemployment
TAMPA, FL --- FEBRUARY 2, 2010 --- A landmark study released today by the America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay Food Bank and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, reports that more than 409,000 people, including 151,500 children, receive emergency food each year through America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay.
The Hunger In America 2010 Local Report prepared for America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay is the first research study to capture the significant connection between the recent economic downturn and an increased need for emergency food assistance. The number of children and adults in need of food as a result of experiencing food insecurity has significantly increased.
An estimated 50,700 people receive emergency food assistance each week from a food pantry, soup kitchen, or other agency served by the America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay food bank in the 10-county service area.
Nationally, an estimated 5.7 million people receive emergency food assistance each week from a food pantry, soup kitchen, or other agency served by one of Feeding America’s more than 200 food banks, including America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay. This is a 27 percent increase over numbers reported in Hunger in America 2006, which reported that 4.5 million people were served each week.
In West Central Florida, more than 60 percent of client households served are experiencing very low food security—or hunger— meaning that one or more household members had to reduce the amount of food consumed or had no food at all.
That is double the rate of very low food security stated nationally, where more than one in three client households are experiencing very low food security.
Pat Rogers, executive director of America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay assessed the findings for West Central Florida, “The local study mirrors the national numbers in many areas. But the rate of unemployment in our area rose to 11.8% in 2009, and is above the nation’s average. That combined with low incomes of the working poor will continue to challenge us as we strive to meet the need.”
“We were able to increase the Food Bank’s donated food supply by 1.5 million pounds last year, totaling 16.3 million pounds for the 10 counties we serve. But because our unemployment grew by 4% in 2009, the need has far outstripped the additional supply”, Rogers explained.
“It is morally reprehensible that we live in the wealthiest nation in the world where one in six people are struggling to make choices between food and other basic necessities,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. “These are choices that no one should have to make, but particularly households with children. Insufficient nutrition has adverse effects on the physical, behavioral and mental health, and academic performance of children. It is critical that we ensure that no child goes to bed hungry in America as they truly are our engine of economic growth and future vitality.”
The methodology incorporated into the 2010 study includes data collected from February through June, 2009. America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay conducted face-to-face interviews with 441 people seeking emergency food at food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs, as well as interviews 182 agencies that provide food assistance.
Nationally, Feeding America collected quantitative and qualitative feedback from 61,000 face-to-face in-depth interviews with people seeking emergency food assistance and more than 37,000 agency surveys, making this study the largest, most-comprehensive ever conducted on domestic hunger.
USDA reported in November 2009 that an estimated 49 million people, including 17 million children, are at risk of hunger in this country. Hunger In America 2010 reinforces the dramatically increasing need for food assistance in the United States.
Among the key findings in the America’s Second Harvest Food Bank report:
- 37% of households served by America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay are children under 18 years old. 6% of the members of households are children age 0 to 5 years.
- 44% of seniors interviewed are facing very low food security—or hunger.
- 58% of clients served by America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay report having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities or heating fuel. 57% had to choose between paying for food and paying their rent or mortgage.
- 22% of households include at least one employed adult, but only half are fulltime.
- 80% of client households are at or below the national poverty level.
- 36% of households served report having at least one household member in poor health. 63% of the clients served by the Food Bank have unpaid medical or hospital bills, and 37% are without health insurance.
- 40% of the clients interviewed identified themselves as African-American, 40% white and 20% Hispanic.
- 44% of client households served by America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits.
- The study also found that food banks are by far the single most important source of food for agencies with emergency food providers. “Almost 90% of the combined pantries, kitchens, and shelters interviewed stated that the elimination of the Food Bank would have a devastating impact on their operation”, said Carolyn Riggins, agency relations manager at America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay.
- “Over three-quarters of the agencies reported that they served more clients in 2009 than in the previous year”, Riggins continued. “As our distribution partners, their role in these anxious economic times has been severely tested.”
A summary of the findings is available online. The full national report is available on Feeding America's web site at Hunger in America 2010.