February 21, 2006 - Hunger Study Results Released
February 16, 2006 - Commodity Supplemental Food Program Slated for Elimination
Hunger Study Results Released
February 21, 2006 - As a member of America’s Second Harvest, the Nation’s Food Bank Network, Weld Food Bank participated in a nationwide study on hunger and food insecurity. Hunger in America 2006 is a scientific study conducted through 52,000 face-to-face interviews with people seeking emergency food assistance from one of the nearly 50,000 agencies that an America's Second Harvest Network Member food bank or food-rescue organization serves. Locally, 187 face-to-face interviews were conducted through food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters that receive food from Weld Food Bank. The study is undertaken every four years and had many important findings and conclusions. In many areas, Weld County’s statistics vary greatly from national or statewide figures. Of clients interviewed through food pantries, 42% were children and 21.8% were seniors 65 or older.
In Hunger in America 2001, 68% of households were below the federal poverty line. According to Hunger in America 2006, 74% of people interviewed are below the federal poverty line locally, compared with 70% nationwide. In 2001, 36% of people surveyed had at least one person in their home who was working full-time. Today, that number has increased to 39%. In the 2006 study, the average household income for the previous month was $810.
In another recent study by the US Department of Agriculture, it was found that Colorado had the 4th largest increase in food insecurity in our nation over the past year.Food insecurity is defined as not knowing where your next meal will come from. In Hunger in America 2001, 71% of families were classified as food insecure, today, that number has risen to 76%.
Because information was collected at a local, state and national level, the findings will be utilized to assist us in our strategies to alleviate hunger. If you would like additional information about Hunger in America 2006, please contact Leona Martens 970-356-2199, ext. 301.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program Slated for Elimination
February 16, 2006 - An essential nutrition program for seniors, pregnant and postpartum mothers and children has been proposed to be eliminated by the President’s budget released last week. The program serves monthly nutritional packages to people at critical points in development, during pregnancy, and at early and late in our life cycle. Nationally, the program serves nearly half a million people. Of those, 459,000 are low income seniors. In Weld County, 5,281 people are served each month through this essential hunger prevention program.
A recent study by the US Department of Agriculture found that Colorado had the 4th largest increase in food insecurity in our nation over the past year. Food insecurity is defined as not knowing where your next meal will come from. Along with its effects on children, hunger has an overwhelming impact on seniors as well. Seniors who experience hunger are at risk for serious health problems. Hunger increases their risk for stroke, exacerbates pre-existing ill health conditions, limits the efficacy of many prescription drugs, and may affect brain chemistry increasing the incidence of depression and isolation. The elimination of CSFP would have a devastating effect locally on those receiving services.
If you would like additional information about advocacy to help save this program from being eliminated, please contact Leona Martens 970-356-2199, ext. 301
Colorado had the 4th largest increase in food insecurity in our nation over the past year
