A study by Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, reports that more than 37 million people, one in eight Americans - including 14 million children and nearly 3 million seniors - receive emergency food each year through the nation’s network of food banks and the agencies they serve. The findings represent a staggering 46 percent increase since the organization’s previously released study in 2006.

Hunger in America 2010 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.

More than one in three client households are experiencing very low food security — or hunger — a 54 percent increase in the number of households compared to four years ago.

An estimated 5.7 million people receive emergency food assistance each week from a food pantry, soup kitchen or other agency served by one of Feeding America’s more than 200 food banks. This is a 27 percent increase over numbers reported in Hunger in America 2006, which reported that 4.5 million people were served each week.

"Clearly, the economic recession, resulting in dramatically increasing unemployment nationwide, has driven unprecedented, sharp increases in the need for emergency food assistance and enrollment in federal nutrition programs,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America.

Many of the people served by Feeding America food banks report they are struggling with unemployment, difficult choices between food and other basic necessities along with the pressures of skyrocketing health care costs. While 36 percent of client households have at least one adult working, Hunger in America 2010 reports a 68 percent increase over four years ago in the number of adults seeking emergency food assistance who have been unemployed for under a year. More than 46 percent of clients served report having to choose between paying for utilities or heating fuel and food; 39 percent said they had to choose between paying for rent or a mortgage and food; 34 percent report having to choose between paying for medical bills and food; and 35 percent must choose between transportation and food.

This report is based on independent research conducted on behalf of Feeding America by Mathematica Policy Research, a nonpartisan social policy research firm based in Princeton, New Jersey.

USDA reported in November 2009 that an estimated 49 million people, including 17 million children, are at risk of hunger. Hunger in America 2010 reinforces the dramatically increasing need for food assistance in the United States, with 70 percent of food pantries and soup kitchens and 73 percent of emergency shelters reporting that they are facing one or more problems that threaten their ability to continue operating. Problems relating to funds and food supplies were the two most commonly cited threats.

Among other key comparative findings in the report:

* 50 percent increase in the number of children served annually.
* 66 percent increase in the number of Hispanics served annually.
* 26 percent increase in the number of African-Americans served annually.
* 64 percent increase in the number of households with seniors facing very low food security—or hunger.
* 59 percent increase in the number of client households reporting they have to choose between paying their rent or mortgage and food.
* 40 percent increase in the number of client households with at least one adult working.
* 60 percent increase in the number of clients who report that someone in their household does not have access to health insurance.
* 60 percent increase in the number of client households that have an unpaid medical or hospital bill.
* 64 percent increase in the number of client households receiving SNAP benefits.

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