ABOUT HUNGER

Who’s Hungry in Alabama?


Today in America, 23 million people are hungry. But it’s not just a national problem. Hunger exists right here in East Central Alabama. Food insecurity is closely linked to poverty. People suffer from hunger and food insecurity when they do not have the money to purchase nutritionally adequate food. More than 15 percent of Alabama residents live in poverty. In some counties in our service area, the number rises to almost 30 percent – one out of every three residents.

Consider these facts:

  • 13% of Alabama’s population is “food insecure” meaning they have uncertain or limited access to enough food for a healthy life.
  • One out of every five children in our area lives in poverty.
  • Recent research indicates that when young children experience even mild under-nutrition during critical periods of growth their physical growth may be reduced and their brain development affected.
  • Over 12% of Alabama citizens receive food stamps. The benefit level equates to 79 cents per meal.
  • One out of every four of Alabama’s seniors lives below the poverty level. 
  • Hunger worsens health problems for older adults and speeds the onset of degenerative diseases. This leads to unnecessary decreases in their quality of life and increases the cost of healthcare in America. National data for seniors ages 65 – 75 show that a majority are not consuming even 2/3 of the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
  • In 2001, the number of Americans who were food insecure, or hungry or at risk of hunger, was 33.6 million, a rise over 2000.

While welfare reform has successfully reduced welfare rolls, many of those whose support has ended may not be in better situations:

  • In Wisconsin, more than 1/3 of former welfare recipients reported having problems paying for food, despite a high incidence of employment.
  • In South Carolina, 17% of former welfare recipients reported that they had no way to buy food some of the time.

Research demonstrates that the stereotypes of the “down and out” people in soup kitchen or emergency pantry lines don’t always hold true. For example, of those requesting emergency help from Food Bank partner agencies:

  • Nearly half had at least one person in the household working
  • 41% had at least a high school education
  • 14,812,000 people in the U.S. are members of working poor families

The same research revealed that our neighbors suffering the indignity of hunger are forced to make choices most of us cannot imagine:

  • 43% had to choose between buying food for their families and paying their rent or mortgage
  • 42% had to choose between buying food and needed medicines
  • 28% reported that adults in their household had missed meals in the last month because there was not enough food.

SOURCES: AMERICA’S SECOND HARVEST’S HUNGER 1997: FACES AND FACTS; STATE OF WISCONSIN DEPT. OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, 1999; SOUTH CAROLINA DEPT. OF SOCIAL SERVICE, 1997; FOOD RESEARCH ACTION CENTER “HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF HUNGER”; TUFT’S UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NUTRITION SCIENCE AND POLICY, 1998; 2000 U.S. CENSUS DATA; CENTER ON BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES, 1999

Web Resources:

The following are hunger-related web sites which includes hunger relief organizations, hunger and poverty-related information, and nutrition information.

America’s Second Harvest – the national network of food banks.

Alabama Food Bank Association—web site for the nine food banks in Alabama

Auburn University War on Hunger - Auburn University is privileged to have been selected by the United Nations World Food Programme as its lead academic partner in a recently launched student “War on Hunger” campaign.

Food Research Action Center (FRAC) – A national organization working to improve public policies to eradicate hunger and malnutrition in the United States.

Foodstamphelp.org – The Michigan Poverty and Law Center sponsors this site which features a food stamp calculator.

United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service – Federal program that manages food stamps, school meals and the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Food Stamps Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool

Food Stamp Hotline Information—(334) 424-1700 – A toll-free food stamp hotline which assists potential recipients with their questions about eligibility and benefit levels.

Congressional Hunger Center – An outgrowth of the Congressional Select Committee on Hunger. The center publishes a newsletter, encourages local advocacy and provides educational resources for teachers.

National Catholic Charities –A Microsoft PowerPoint slide show that depicts the economic challenges for a family of four living in poverty.

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger – A nonprofit agency that allocates donations from the Jewish community to nonprofit organizations providing food and help to hungry people.

Nutrition-Related Resources:

The American Dietetic Association Website: www.eatright.org

UT Extension

Healthy People 2010 (a government initiative for improving our health: www.healthypeople.gov

United States Government Nutrition Site: www.nutrition.gov

Fruits and Vegetables matter more– A site that promotes good health through fruits and vegetables

Fresh Fruits & Vegetables by Del Monte

Recipes:

www.nal.usda.gov

Food Safety:

Gateway to government food safety information: www.foodsafety.gov

Partnership for Food Safety Education: www.fightbac.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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