Hunger on the rise: 10.2 Percent of Vermont Residents Struggling with Hunger
For Immediate Release
November 18, 2008
For more information, contact:Judith Stermer
Vermont Foodbank
w. 802-477-4108
c. 802-505-0699
Hunger on the rise:10.2 Percent of Vermont Residents Struggling with HungerMore Vermonters are struggling to provide food for themselves and their families. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) annual report released yesterday, 10.2 percent of Vermont’s households are struggling with hunger or “food insecurity”. Food insecurity is the USDA term describing households that lack consistent access to nutritious foods.
“The increase in food insecurity percentages in not surprising given the spike in food and fuel cost,” says Christine Foster, Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Vermont Foodbank. “The new data shows that Vermont has the 29th highest rate of food insecurity in the nation and the 14th highest rate of food insecurity with hunger. This is unacceptable in Vermont. We can do better,” stated Foster.
Around the state, Foodbank Network Partners are confirming the USDA report. In Franklin County, the Franklin County Senior Center is reporting a 50 percent increase in the number of families being served by the Center, while donations of food and funds are on the decline. “People give what they can; they just don’t have any more to give,” according to Jim Coutts, a spokesperson for the Franklin County Senior Center. “Our clients are worried about paying for medicine and food. Many have to choose.”
According to the USDA’s 2005-2007 data, 4.6 percent of Vermont’s households are considered to have “very low food security”. People that fall into this category experience more severe problems with hunger and are frequently cutting back or skipping meals. The number of Vermont households affected by this most severe form of hunger has shown a significant annual increase; more than doubling since the 2000-2002 report, when 2% of Vermont households were in this category.
At the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, demand is up significantly over last year. Rob Meehan, Executive Director said “We are serving 1,000 more individuals than we did last year.” Meehan noted that the Food Shelf is seeing more working families, 4% more children, and an ever increasing veteran and refugee population. “We are ordering twice as much food from the Foodbank as we did at this time last year.”
The Vermont Foodbank and its network of 270 food shelves, meal sites, senior centers and after-school programs are preparing for what is shaping up to be a tough winter. “We are encouraged when people come to us for assistance. At least we know they will receive a nutritious meal,” said Coutts.
To read the full report, Household Food Security in the United States, 2007, go to:
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR66/
About the Vermont Foodbank
Located in Barre, the Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger relief organization, serving a network of 270 partners, consisting of food shelves, food pantries, senior centers, shelters and after-school programs, that assist 66,000 Vermonters each year. In 2007, the Vermont Foodbank distributed nearly 6.5 million pounds of food to its Network Partners around the state. The Foodbank is a member of Feeding America, formerly known as America's Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network (A2HN), the country’s largest charitable hunger-relief organization. For additional information about the Vermont Foodbank, facts on hunger and poverty, recent articles on the issue, or to find a food shelf in your community please visit us on the web at www.vtfoodbank.org
