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In the spring of 2009, the Food Bank of Central New York was one of 185 food banks across the country to participate in the most comprehensive study of domestic hunger ever conducted, under the leadership of Feeding America and Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. This major undertaking was only possible because of the invaluable partnership we have with our member programs and the brave clients willing to share their personal information.
The goal of the study was to determine who is in need, how the need is met, and who is meeting the need. Nationwide, volunteers and staff conducted over 52,000 face-to-face client interviews. Additionally, over 30,000 direct-service programs completed questionnaires about the services they provide as a part of the emergency food network.
We are pleased to share with you Hunger in America 2010: The Facts & The Faces, a summary of results from this important study for our 11 county service area. We hope you find the summary useful in helping to understand the scope of the problem and what we can do to meet the increasing diversity of needs. We encourage you to share the information with others, as we will continue to do. Increasing awareness about this solvable problem of hunger is a critical component in our work together.
What Can You Do:
1. Educate Yourself: Despite the rising food insecurity and growing demands on emergency food programs, government funding for such programs has suffered cuts or been flat-funded over the last decade. Expansion and improvement of the national nutrition programs is the fastest, most direct way to reduce hunger. Stay informed by signing up for anti-hunger policy e-alerts from the Food Bank of Central New York, Feeding America, and the Food Research and Action Center.
2. Educate Others: One of the most discouraging things about hunger in America is how many people are unaware that it exists. You can help correct this misperception by talking about hunger within your circle of family, friends, and community organizations. In many communities, coalitions of concerned citizens have joined together to address hunger locally, often providing highly effective ways to increase people’s awareness of hunger and encouraging them to participate in the fight against hunger.
3. Do Something! Ultimately, the nation’s political will to end hunger must build from each of us. Become involved with local anti-hunger organizations by donating time, money and/or food. Volunteers are a fundamental part of the emergency food network and increasingly involved in helping make federal programs more effective. We must also urge elected officials to do more to reduce hunger by improving and expanding the national nutrition programs and adequately supporting the emergency food network. We have to let them know that ending hunger is a priority and should receive the resources it needs.
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