Landmark Study Reveals an 
Unprecedented Number of Northwest North Carolinians
Seeking Emergency Food Assistance

Winston-Salem, NC --- February 3, 2010 --- A landmark study released Tuesday by Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, reports that more than 37 million people, including 14 million children and nearly 3 million seniors, receive emergency food assistance each year through Feeding America food banks. The study also shows that North Carolina Feeding America food banks provide food assistance for an estimated 1,434,700 different people annually. Based on data from the Hunger in America 2010 Study for Northwest NC and our partner agency network, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC is now serving 256,000 people annually, or 1 in 8 Northwest North Carolinians.

This is the first research study to capture the significant connection between the recent economic downturn and an increased need for emergency food assistance. The number of children and adults in need of food as a result of experiencing food insecurity has significantly increased. 
“It is morally reprehensible that we live in the wealthiest nation in the world where 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.”  

“Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC has been very active for many years in addressing the serious and growing problem of hunger,” said Clyde Fitzgerald, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC. “Hunger is a solvable problem. We are thankful to the communities we serve for their continued support in donating food, money and time to Second Harvest Food Bank. The confidence placed in our mission to reduce hunger in Northwest NC is our inspiration to face and overcome the challenges ahead.”

The methodology incorporated into the 2010 study includes data collected from February through June, 2009.  Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC conducted face-to-face interviews with 553 people seeking emergency food at food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs, as well as interviews with more than 353 partner agencies that provide food assistance.

Nationally, Feeding America collected quantitative and qualitative feedback from 61,000 face-to-face in-depth interviews with people seeking emergency food assistance and more than 37,000 agency surveys, making this study the largest, most-comprehensive ever conducted on domestic hunger.    

Among the key findings in the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC report:

• Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC’s nearly 400 partner agencies serve the area’s most vulnerable citizens. Among those served by emergency food pantries, 32% of all household members are children under age 18 and nearly 10% are seniors.
• Over three quarters (76%) of those served by Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC partner agencies have incomes below the poverty level and over 86% have incomes less than 130% of poverty.
• The majority of adults served by Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC’s emergency pantries are women (64%). The faces of the clients we serve are as diverse as the faces of America. Clients of our emergency pantries are 41% white, 43% African American and 10% Hispanic.
• Among households with children, 82% are food insecure (not knowing where their next meal will come from) and 32% are experiencing hunger.
• Client households seeking emergency food assistance are forced to make choices between rent or mortgage (45%), utilities or heating fuel (49%), transportation (43%) and medicine or medical care (42%).
• 31% of all households served by Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC partner agencies had at least one adult working.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC provides 70% of the food provided through emergency pantries, 52% of food provided through soup kitchens and 37% of the food provided at emergency shelters. The current average among all agencies is 68%.

The full national report is available on Feeding America's web site at Hunger in America 2010.
The local report printed in June 2010 by the Winston-Salem Journal is available here.