Hunger In America 2010
According to the most comprehensive study of hunger in the United States, which was conducted by Feeding America, almost half of the 83,800 clients we serve annually at the South Plains Food Bank are households with children 18 and under. The study also showed that 45% of our client households have at least one working adult.
"I think so many people have the misconception that our clients are lazy, uneducated, and poor by choice," said SPFB Executive Director David Weaver. "Even though we in the food bank world have known that is not the case - now here is mathematical data to prove that many of our clients are trying to work and make ends meet. They just seem to have more month than they have money."
The study also revealed that many, 33% of those who utilize our services, have someone in their household in poor health. Of our clients, 44% indicated that they had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care.
The study, released February 2, 2010 by Feeding America, sheds light as to why we are experiencing a 25% increase in our food distribution this year. More Americans, including our neighbors here on the South Plains, are finding themselves in need of food assistance. Although our hope is to alleviate hunger, we are anticipating a continued increase in our distribution this year as 1 in 5 adults across the South Plains are at risk of going to bed tonight without a meal or knowing when they will eat again.
About the South Plains Food Bank
Food banking solves two problems ... hunger and waste.
The South Plains Food Bank, Inc. is committed to alleviating hunger
and giving hope to the hungry. We are a humanitarian resource responsible for securing, growing, processing, and distributing food to charitable organizations and persons in need.
