FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Raleigh, NC – Aug. 25, 2011 – Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, today released a new study which reveals in the greater Triangle area, 23.2% of children under the age of 18 are struggling with hunger.
The study, “Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2011”, also reveals that there are children struggling with hunger in every county in America. Nationally, while one in six Americans overall are food insecure, the rate for children is much higher: nearly one in four children are food insecure.
“The study is a groundbreaking tool for fighting hunger,” commented Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Co-Founder and Executive Director Jill Staton Bullard. “It allows us a look at the very different face of food insecurity in each county and congressional district. This study shines a light on what Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has witnessed on the front lines for more than 22 years of hunger relief, the problem of hunger -where we live - is much bigger than most neighbors imagine. This is the bad news. The good news is we can end hunger in our community if we work together to create sustainable solutions. The work has already started, IFFS planted the seeds to these solutions more than two decades ago and with your help we are beginning to create a hunger-free community. How can we achieve this? We need more understanding of the problem and resources, support and your help to end hunger in our community. Together we can end hunger in our community!”
“Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity” provides the following data for Greater Triangle Area in an interactive map format:
- 15.8% of the Triangle population who is food insecure.
- 56% of children in Triangle that is eligible for assistance from federal nutrition programs like Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), free or reduced-price school meals, and others.
- 44% of children in the Triangle that is not eligible for assistance from federal nutrition programs like Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), free or reduced-price school meals, and others.
An executive summary of the report can be found at: feedingamerica.org/mapthegap/childsummary
The study is an important tool because it provides critical information for developing strategies to alleviate child hunger.
By providing additional details about the face of child food insecurity at the county level, “Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2011” will enable Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, food banks, the community based agencies they serve and policy makers to redefine approaches in addressing needs of hungry children and their families and develop more effective policy solutions.
This research is supported by ConAgra Foods Foundation. The ConAgra Foods Foundation funded this research with the goal of advancing the collective understanding of child hunger in America, so that resources at the local and national level could be better leveraged to help children and families in need.
The research is based on “Map the Meal Gap 2011: Food Insecurity Estimates at the County Level”, supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and Nielsen.
TRIANGLE SOLUTIONS
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community. Since 1989, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (IFFS) has served children, adults, families and the elderly through proactive programs; moving beyond emergency food provision to sustainable, local solutions to food hardships. From farm to fork, IFFS teaches, grows, prepares, cooks & delivers healthy, nutritious food to people experiencing food hardship.
There are two major factors leading to food hardship: income & access. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions to both empower and provide access. Our approach emphasizes the importance of nutrition and eating well on the health of individuals and society as a whole.
Empowerment Solutions:
- Culinary job training and internship programs
- Young farmer training program
- Culinary-based nutrition education programs and workshops
- Catering With a Cause
Access Solutions:
- Food recovery & distribution
- Mobile farmers markets
- Grocery bags for seniors
- BackPack Buddies, summer lunches and Kids Cafes
- Community gardens and farms
- Local food stabilization
- Field gleaning & Plant a Row for the Hungry
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ABOUT INTER-FAITH FOOD SHUTTLE
The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has been increasing access to healthy, fresh produce for low-income community members for more than 22 years. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is North Carolina’s Share Our Strength partner agency teaching the Cooking Matters classes. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a non-traditional Food Bank of Feeding America and an United Way Agency of Excellence. Visit www.foodshuttle.org to learn about our solutions to end hunger in our community.
ABOUT FEEDING AMERICA
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community.