Hunger in The Heartland
Hunger can affect people from all walks of life. Many Americans are one job loss or medical crisis away from food insecurity – but some people, including children and seniors, may be at greater risk of hunger than others. The problem of food insecurity has been exaggerated by the pandemic.
Read the details in a Letter from the President of our Board of Directors.
In Walworth County, 33% of families report food insecurity at some point during the year.
According to a recent study by United Way, 42% of Wisconsin and 33% of Walworth County residents are considered Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed (ALICE). This is the new face of hunger, the working poor who struggle to afford life's basic necessities. Based on information from Feeding America studies, 53% of this population have high blood pressure, 59% have unpaid medical bills and 32% have a member with diabetes. As high as 82% report purchasing the cheapest food available, even if they knew it was not the healthiest option, in order to provide enough food for their family.
Volunteer Powered, Community Funded
We are Volunteer Driven!
Our funding comes from the community and gracious donors throughout Walworth County. Approximately 10% of our food is provided by The Emergency Federal Assistance Program. The balance of our food is purchased from local farms, distributors and wholesalers as well as Feeding America and The Hunger Task Force.
Senior Hunger in America in 2022
If you think of the biggest health threats facing many older adults in America, your list may likely include cognitive decline, vision and hearing impairments, heart disease, strokes and other ailments. While each of these health issues is a threat to many American seniors, it turns out that hunger is the public health issue that is quickly becoming dire for many older adults. Here we take a closer look at what senior hunger means, why the threat is getting worse and what can be done about it. Key Facts About Senior Hunger • Nearly one in six seniors in America faces the threat of hunger or being malnourished (around 8 million total). • The rate of hunger among older adults increased 65 percent from 2007 to 2014. • One-third of all seniors report trimming the size of their meals, skipping meals completely or buying less nutritious foods because they didn’t have enough money for a proper meal. • Senior hunger costs the U.S. healthcare system $130 billion per year.
Thanks to The Hunger Task Force and the Senior Stock Box Program, we are able to offer additional food assistance to seniors (over the age of 60) who qualify.
For the Complete Guide to the public health crisis facing many older Americans, read the entire article here at this Medicare site.
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USDA Non Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
