Hunger Study 2006
This report presents information on the clients and agencies served by Community Food Bank. The information is drawn from a national study “Hunger in America 2006.” The study was conducted on behalf of America’s Second Harvest (A2H), the nation’s largest organization of emergency food providers.
The findings are based on completed in-person interviews and agency surveys. Community Food Bank staff interviewed 324 clients at Emergency Food AssistanceProgram (EFAP) sites. Sixty-nine agency survey’s were also received and reported on 121 programs. This report summary focuses mainly on emergency food providers and their clients who receive food from Community Food Bank.
Emergency food providers are defined as food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters serving short-term residents. It should be recognized that many other types of provider organizations served by food banks are, for the most part, not described in this study. These providers who are not covered included such services as Congregate Meals for seniors, day care facilities, and after school programs.
The report found that the face of hunger in the Central Valley has changed. With the rising cost of housing, medical expenses, utilities and other necessities, the face of hunger is no longer the homeless person standing on the corner. The face of hunger is now the working poor, our children and our seniors. More of the working poor are having to choose between buying food or paying rent, utilities or medicine. In our community too many people are faced with these difficult decisions on a daily basis. Our children, our seniors and the working poor are in a crisis. Across the Central Valley families are experiencing more episodes of food insecurity and hunger. Each month, thousands of these families in Fresno, Madera and Kings Counties cannot afford well-balanced, nutritious meals. Community Food Bank and it’s partnership with more than 170 agencies are working hard to meet the needs of our community.
© 2006 Community Food Bank- Fresno, CA