PHOENIX, ARIZONA (7/1/2010): 24.2%, or nearly one in four Arizona children under the age of 18 in Arizona, are experiencing food insecurity according to new research released today by Feeding America and funded by the ConAgra Foods Foundation, Feeding America’s Leadership Partner in the Fight to End Child Hunger. Only Arkansas and Texas have a higher percentage of food insecure children.
The report, entitled Child Food Insecurity in the United States: 2006-08 shows this in an increase of 4.0% in Arizona since the previous 2005-07 report, also making the percent increase the third highest jump in the U.S. According to the report, 18.9% of children under the age of 18 nationwide are food insecure.
“This new report highlights just how severe the problem of child hunger is in Arizona,” said Ginny Hildebrand, president and CEO of the Association of Arizona Food Banks. “Food insecurity and hunger are serious threats to our children’s overall health, learning and long-term potential. Passing strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization legislation would be a powerful first step to address this critical issue, but more is needed.”
Each year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) releases a report on the state of food insecurity in the United States, which focuses on the general population in each state. This new report delves deeper into the data in order to bring the child hunger statistics to the forefront. Properly determining detailed, state-level estimates on child food insecurity requires looking at a three-year average to increase accuracy and reliability. Though high, these estimates are expected to rise over the coming years as the full impact of the economic downturn is taken into account.
“This report demonstrates the crisis that our country continues to face at the local level,” said Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of Feeding America. “The fight against hunger is more important than ever. The data underscores the critical importance of passing the new Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act.”
The full report, including a complete list of all 50 states, is available at www.azfoodbanks.org.
Established in 1984, the Association of Arizona Food Banks is a private, non-profit organization serving five-member regional food banks (Community Food Bank, Desert Mission Food Bank, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, United Food Bank, Yuma Community Food Bank) and a network of nearly 1,700 food pantries and agencies. As one of the first state associations in the nation, AAFB was instrumental in the development of a statewide gleaning project, and our advocacy efforts have brought about beneficial state and federal legislation for our member food banks and the people they serve. For more information, to find a food bank or pantry in your area, or to learn more about donation and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.azfoodbanks.org.
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.
The ConAgra Foods Foundation, through its Nourish Today, Flourish Tomorrow platform, is dedicated to raising awareness of the nearly 17 million children in America who are at risk of hunger and don’t have enough food to live active, healthful lives. It aggressively pursues sustainable solutions in the fight against child hunger. And the Foundation is committed to building a community of people who are passionate about ensuring that all kids have access to the food and facts they need to eat nutritiously while living balanced lifestyles and succeeding in school and life. ConAgra Foods Foundation invests in national and local partnerships with high-impact, not-for-profit organizations, such as Feeding America, that take an innovative approach to addressing needs in the core areas of hunger and nutrition education. For more information, please visit www.conagrafoodsfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/ConAgraFoodsFoundation. The ConAgra Foods Foundation is funded solely by ConAgra Foods.
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Media Contacts:
Ginny Hildebrand | President and CEO | 602-528-3434 | ghildebrand@azfoodbanks.org
Brian Simpson | Director of Communications | 602-334-7796 | brian@azfoodbanks.org
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