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Hunger Facts

Every four years, the Regional Food Bank and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley participates in a national hunger study in conjunction with Feeding America. The most recent study, titled Hunger in America 2006, documents the extent of hunger in our region, in the state, and in the nation and helps guide policy discussions and affect change.

Key Findings

Hunger in America 2006 revealed that hunger remains a serious problem in upstate New York.

The Regional Food Bank and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley serve an alarming number of hungry individuals

The Food Bank provides emergency food assistance to approximately 195,700 different people in our community each year - including 49,000 children and 13,000 seniors.

In a given week, approximately 40,100 people receive emergency food assistance from the 1,000+ member agencies in the Regional Food Bank’s 23-county service area.

The Regional Food Bank and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley remain criticals partner in the fight against hunger

Food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters recieve more than half of their food (64%) from the Food Bank.

Almost all emergency feeding programs (94%) said elimination of support from the Food Bank would have a devastating or significant impact on their operations.

Hunger in the Food Bank’s 23-county service area based on the Hunger in America 2006 study. For more information, visit http://www.hungerinamerica.org.

Client Characteristics

Clients seeking emergency food assistance from the Regional Food Bank, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley and its agencies are typically part of hard working families living below the federal poverty line. Of the households served by the Food Bank:

• 36% have at least one adult working. The median monthly income is $750
• 57% live below the federal poverty line
• 62% are white, 20% are black, 16% are Hispanic, and 2% are from other racial or ethnic groups

Among all households served by the Regional Food Bank and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley’s emergency feeding programs:

• 75% are food insecure, meaning they do not know where they will find their next meal
• 28% experience hunger, meaning they are completely without a source of food
• 27% receive food stamps

Clients are often forced to make choices between paying for food and everyday necessities.

• 37% have to choose between food and utilities
• 30% have to choose between food and housing
• 23% have to choose between food and health care

Agency Characteristics

Many of the Regional Food Bank and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley’s member agencies depend on volunteers and faith-based organizations:

• More than 58% of food pantries and 43% of soup kitchens rely entirely on volunteers and have no paid staff
• Over half of the emergency feeding programs served by the Food Bank (52%) are affiliated with churches, mosques, synagogues and other religious organizations
• Regarding the volume of clients, two-thirds of emergency feeding programs (67%) indicate they serve more clients now than they did in 2001 (the date of the last study)

Agency Reliance on the Regional Food Bank and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley

• Food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters receive more than half of their food (64%) from the Food Bank
• Almost all emergency feeding programs (94%) said elimination of support from the Food Bank would have a devastating or significant impact on their operations

How This Study Was Conducted

Hunger in America 2006 is the largest, most comprehensive study of its kind ever conducted. The study provides authoritative, comprehensive, and statistically valid data on the national charitable response to hunger and the people served by private hunger-relief agencies. Through 52,000 face-to-face client interviews and 30,000 surveys of local charitable agencies, Hunger in America 2006 chronicles the nature and incidence of demand for emergency food assistance which, in turn, helps charitable feeding organizations better address the burgeoning need through program development and refinement. The results also better inform the public policy discourse so that federal nutrition programs can better serve those in need.