Feeding the Hungry

Food Drive held by First National Bank.

While updating some of our display information regarding hunger in America, I decided to check current stats for the number of those facing "food insecurity." Food insecurity is technically defined by the USDA as "At times during the year, these households were uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all their members because they had insufficient money or other resources for food. Food-insecure households include those with low food security andvery low food security." The original figure I used in 2009 (based on data that was already a few years old, as the numbers are churned out rather slowly) showed that 36.2 million Americans face that uncertainty. Current numbers (based on data collected in 2011) show that number to be 50.1 million. This 50.1 million includes 8.6 million children, and  845,000 children (1.1 percent of the nation's children) lived in households with very low food security. Very low food security is defined as "In these food-insecure households, normal eating patterns of one or more household members were disrupted and food intake was reduced at times during the year because they had insufficient money or other resources for food."

 

These numbers are staggering but not surprising when compared to the Mission's own rise in meal production. In 2007, the Mission served about 72,500 meals. Last year, we served over 106,000. It is not always easy to meet this need, but we are blessed by fellow Rescuers whose donations have enabled us to continue increasing meal production. Thank you for all you do to help us feed women, children, and men who are physically and spiritually hungry!

To host a food drive for the City Rescue Mission, email info@BEaRESCUER.com or call 517.485.0145. More information is available on our website: www.BEaRESCUER.com. To give a donation to the Mission, click here to Donate Now!

 

More information on Food Security in the United States from the USDA.