Study Reveals An Unprecedented Number Of Long Islanders At Risk Of Hunger
February 3, 2010
(Hempstead,N.Y.)-An estimated 283,700 Long Islanders, including nearly 110,000 children face the risk of going hungry everyday according to a new study by Feeding America, a national hunger relief organization. The figure represents a 20% increase in food assistance since 2006, when the last hunger study was released. Nearly 65,000 individuals are seeking emergency food assistance in Nassau and Suffolk Counties weekly. The study was conducted in cooperation with Island Harvest and Long Island Cares, Inc., the region’s leading anti-hunger agencies.
Hunger in America 2010: The Local Report for Long Island is the first research study to capture the connection between the largest economic calamity since the Great Depression and an increased need for food assistance. The report examined demographics, household makeup and economic status of individuals and families who are food insecure; a measure of the lack of access to enough food at times for an active, healthy life, or a limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods.
Key findings from the report:
- 49% of client households report having to choose between paying their rent or mortgage and food.
- 48% of client households have at least one adult who is employed.
- 30% of client households are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
- 52% and 39% of households with school-age children participate in the federal school lunch and breakfast programs respectively.
- 74% of all households served by Island Harvest and Long Island Cares are food insecure.
- 39% are children under 18 and 10% are children under five years old. Four percent of the members of households are elderly.
- 63% have incomes below the federal poverty level.
- 6% are homeless.
Among those accessing food services, or programs, 30% are white, 40% black and 29% Hispanic, with the remainder from other racial groups. Unemployment on Long Island was reported to be 7% in November 2009. By contrast, the jobless rate was approximately 5% four years ago when the last hunger study was conducted. Other influencing factors in the demand for services include those who are underemployed, working part-time, or earning considerably less that they had previously, adding to the ranks of those who are food insecure and not included in unemployment data.
“Hunger on Long Island has become a major public health crisis especially among children, who are particularly vulnerable,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest. “The lack of food and proper nutrition can severely affect a child’s emotional and physical development. Depriving children of adequate nutrition in their formative years can result in disastrous consequences.”
“Clearly the national recession and high-cost of living on Long Island has had a major impact on increasing the number of people who are hungry or considered food insecure on Long Island,” said Paule Pachter, Executive Director of Long Island Cares, Inc. “This increase has resulted in Long Island Cares increasing our direct service programs especially to address the needs of children and other individuals that rely upon our organization for food and community support services.”
“It is morally reprehensible that we live in the wealthiest nation in the world where one in six people are struggling to make choices between food and other basic necessities,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. “These are choices that no one should have to make, but particularly households with children. Insufficient nutrition has adverse effects on the physical, behavioral and mental health, and academic performance of children. It is critical that we ensure that no child goes to bed hungry in America as they truly are our engine of economic growth and future vitality.”
Princeton, NJ-based Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. conducted the study, which included 609 of the approximately 702 agencies served by Island Harvest and Long Island Cares. For a copy of the complete Hunger in America 2010 study, please visit www.hungerinamerica.org. An executive summary of Hunger in America 2010: The Local Report for Long Island can be found at www.islandharvest.org or www.licares.org.
About Island Harvest
Fighting hunger and touching lives, Island Harvest serves as the bridge between those who have surplus food and those who need it, supplying hundreds of community-based nonprofit organizations on Long Island with critical food support to help stem the advancing tide of hunger in our communities. Island Harvest has delivered more than 60 million pounds of food, supplementing nearly 47 million meals, since its inception in 1992. In support of its mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island, the organization is actively involved in education and hunger awareness programs to inform the public about the insidious but often unrecognized problem of hunger here, in one of the wealthiest regions of the country, and how individuals, businesses, schools and commercial food establishments can make a difference. Island Harvest is a member of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest). For more information about Island Harvest, visit www.islandharvest.org or call 516-294-8528.
About Long Island Cares
Long Island Cares, Inc. - The Harry Chapin Food Bank is Long Island’s premier food bank and one of the region’s most comprehensive hunger action organizations. Founded in 1980 by the late singer, songwriter and social activist, Harry Chapin, it is led today by his wife and partner Sandy Chapin, a dedicated Board of Directors and talented staff working out of their 35,000 square foot facility in Hauppauge. The organization provides nutritional food and support services for a network of more than 550 community-based member agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, child care programs, senior nutrition sites, disability organizations, veteran’s services and more. While the annual distribution of nearly 6 million pounds of nutritional food is at the heart of Long Island Cares’ operations they also provide a broad array of programs and services including hunger education, vocational and job training, supplemental food programs for children, the provision of new school supplies, job development, legislative advocacy, an on-site triage food pantry and a mobile pantry. Long Island Cares is a member of the Food Bank Association of New York State and Feeding America. For more information about Long Island Cares visit www.licares.org or call (631) 582-FOOD.
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