Hunger Facts

Who's Hungry?

• Many of the people served by food banks are the working poor. Of the households using Western Washington food banks, 62 percent count a job, social security, SSI, unemployment, or disability as a main source of income.
• Nearly 45 percent of the individuals using a food bank, meal program, or shelter in Western Washington have some form of post-secondary education. Only 15 percent are actually homeless.
• Children and seniors account for more than half of the people using food banks in Western Washington.

From a 2005 survey by Food Life Line

The Consequences of Hunger

• Undernourished pregnant women tend to have low birth weight babies. Low birth weight babies suffer from more physical illness, as well as impaired growth and development. Undernourished infants are at greater risk of dying within their first year of life.
• Chronic hunger in adults weakens bones and muscles, increases the risk of illness, worsens existing health problems, and contributes to depression and lack of energy. Hunger in adults also produces nervousness, irritability, and difficulty in concentration.
• Children who are hungry may be less attentive, independent, and curious. Many hungry children have difficulty concentrating; therefore their reading ability and verbal and motor skills suffer. Children who are hungry also often experience headaches, fatigue, frequent colds, and other illnesses that may cause them to be less physically active.
• Hunger can have a devastating emotional impact. It may diminish self-confidence and self-esteem. In a culture that encourages self-reliance, individuals who need food assistance may hesitate to seek help. They may experience feelings of shame or embarrassment due to circumstances that are out of their control.

From Food Life Line

Hunger Causes Difficult Choices

• 51 percent of the hungry people using food banks must choose between food and paying for heat.
• 40 percent of the hungry people using food banks must choose between food and paying for medicine or medical care.
• 40 percent of the hungry people using food banks must choose between food and rent.
• Nearly 43 percent of the people who are emergency food recipients in Western Washington are food insecure. This means that these individuals do not know when they will eat again and often times go to bed hungry
• More than 18 percent of the hungry people in Western Washington have been refused medical care because they could not pay or because they had a Medicaid or Medical Assistance card.

What Can You Do?

Join the Food Connection Advocacy Network. We'll send you e-mail alerts about pressing public policy issues affecting the lives of Food Connection clients. We'll even send you sample messages you can send to your elected officials to make your voice heard. A few minutes can make a real difference in the lives of the people we serve each day. To join the Advocacy Network, e-mail advocacy@foodconnection.org.