Hunger on the South Plains
South Plains Summary of Hunger in America 2010
In February 2010, Feeding America released its fifth and most comprehensive study of hunger in the United States: Hunger in America 2010. By surveying nearly 37,000 charitable hunger-relief organizations and conducting face-to-face interviews with more than 62,000 emergency food recipients across the country, this study, conducted in 2009, provides an accurate picture of hunger in America.
The South Plains Food Bank particpated in the study. Food Bank staff and trained volunteers conducted 375 interviews with clients at 25 agencies throughout the South Plains. The following are some key findings of the study for the South Plains of Texas. (More information about the hunger study is available on Feeding America website: www.feedingamerica.org.)
In Lubbock, Texas, the South Plains Food Bank and it’s network of agencies provide food for an estimated 83,800 different people annually. In any given week, 11,000 different people receive assistance.
88% of pantries, 40% of kitchens, and 36% of shelters surveyed reported that the food bank is the single most important source of food for their agency.
56% of pantries, 59% of kitchens, and 42% of shelters reported that there had been an increase since 2005 in the number of clients who come to their emergency program sites.
Household composition:
35% of the members of households served are children under 18.
14% of the members of households are children age 0 to 5.
8% of the members of households are elderly.
Household Income:
45% of the households include at least one employed adult.
76% have incomes below the official federal poverty level during the previous month.
30% are currently receiving food stamps; however, it is likely that more are eligible.
Difficult choices:
57% of clients report having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities.
49% had to choose between paying for food and paying for rent or mortgage.
44% had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care.
33% of clients indicated that someone else in their household was in poor health.
95% of adult clients said they are either "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with the amount of food they received; 94% were satisfied with the quality of the food they received.
Food Insecurity:
79% of households report that they are food insecure; of which 45% report that they are food insecure with hunger.
Among households with children, 82% are food insecure and 41% are experiencing hunger.
The South Plains Food Bank, Inc. exists to collect and distribute food to the hungry. A member of Feeding America - the Nations Food Bank Network, the South Plains Food Bank works with more than 220 area churches and non-profit organizations to distribute over 7 million pounds of food annually to families and individuals in need. For additional information, contact Vangelia Perryman Media Liaison @ (806) 763 - 3003 ext. 27
South Plains Food Bank, Inc.
4612 Locust Avenue • Lubbock, Texas 79404
806/763-3003 • Fax: 806/741-0850
spfb@spfb.org • www.spfb.org
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