Food Bank of the Southern Tier

A landmark study released by the Food Bank of the Southern Tier and Feeding America, reports that more than 37 million Americans, including 14 million children, receive emergency food each year through the nation’s network of food banks and the agencies they serve. The findings represent a 46 percent increase since the findings reported in Hunger in America 2006.

Click here to view the complete local summary report.

This report 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.

In the six counties served by the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, 25% of clients are experiencing very low food security - or hunger. Nearly 11,000 people receive emergency food assistance each week from a food pantry, soup kitchen, or other agency served by the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. The methodology incorporated into the 2010 study includes data collected from February through June, 2009. The Food Bank of the Southern Tier conducted face-to-face interviews with 276 people seeking emergency food at 38 sites, including food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs, as well as interviews with 144 agencies that provide food assistance.

USDA reported in November 2009 that
an estimated 49 million people, including
17 million children, are at risk of hunger in this country. Hunger In America 2010 reinforces the dramatically increasing need for food assistance in the United States.

Click here to view the national report from Feeding America.

Click here to view the complete local summary report.

Local Snapshot from Hunger in America 2010

The key findings in the Food Bank of the Southern Tier Hunger in America 2010 report are noted below. The Food Bank of the Southern Tier provides emergency food for an estimated 67,900 different people annually.

Client Households
• 33% of the members of households are children under 18 years old.
• 11% of the members of households are elderly.
• 42% of households include at least one employed adult.

Clients Food Insecure with Low or Very Low Food Security
• Among all client households, 59% are food insecure (includes low and very low).
• 25% of clients have very low food security.
• Among households with children, 70% are food insecure and 37% are food insecure with very low food security.

Tough Choices
• 39% of clients report having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities or heating fuel.
• 29% had to choose between paying for food and paying their rent or mortgage.
• 35% had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care.

Role of Federal Government
• Among households with school-age children, 71% and 64%, respectively, participate in the federal school lunch and school breakfast programs.
• 35% of client households served by The Food Bank of the Southern Tier are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, however, it is likely that many more are eligible.