Hunger 101
In Montgomery County, one of the most affluent counties in the country, hunger is around every corner. Many of the people that need food assistance in our community are families, senior citizens on a fixed budget, people who have mental or physical disabilities, people going through a temporary crisis, and the working poor. The weakened economy, increased unemployment rate, and high costs of living in Montgomery County have made it difficult for many to afford their basic needs.
There are many people in our community who must make choices everyday between having enough to eat and buying the medicine they need. Others find they must choose between paying utility bills or grocery bills.
One in four students attending Montgomery County Public Schools qualifies for a free or reduced price lunch. This is a true indication of the poverty that exists in our community.
Each month, there are thousands of people in Montgomery County relying on emergency food programs to put food on the table for their families.
For struggling families, hunger is a harsh reality they face every day.
Self-Sufficiency Standard in Montgomery County
The Self-Sufficiency Standard measures the amount of income that is needed for a family to meet their basic needs without public or private assistance. The Standard takes into consideration the cost of housing, child care, food, health care, transportation, taxes and miscellaneous expenses.The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Montgomery County, researched and published by the Montgomery County Community Action Agency in November 2008, indicates a single adult living in Montgomery County needs an income of $33,000 to meet his/her basic needs. A family of four with two adults and two children would need $70,000 to be considered self-sufficient.
Hunger in America
The United States Department of Agriculture reports that in 2007, 11.1% of Americans struggled to feed themselves. 36.2 million people live in households that are food insecure, and of those people, 12.4 million are children.Food Insecurity's Effects on Children
Children suffer many damaging effects of hunger:- Slower brain and cognitive development
- Insufficient school readiness
- Poor learning and academic performance
- Delayed physical, mental, and social development, as well as delayed growth
- Impeded social behavior, and mental health during school years
- Lower quality of life
- Increased risk of obesity
The Food Research and Action Center report on childhood hunger:
Hunger Does Not Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status 2008
National Hunger Facts & Statistics
- Nationally, in fiscal year 2007, 26.5 million people in an average month relied on the SNAP/Food Stamp Program to help put food on the table.
- In school year 2006-2007 there were a record 8.1 million low-income children eating free and reduced-price breakfast on an average day, an increase of 391,000 children from 2005-2006.
- In fiscal year 2007, nearly 8.3 million women, infants and children relied on the WIC program every month.
Maryland Hunger Facts & Statistics
- 453,699 Maryland residents live in poverty as defined by the National Poverty level.
- 317,825 Maryland residents receive assistance from Food Stamps.
- Among the Maryland residents receiving Food Stamp assistance 41% of them are employed.
- Maryland saw a 15% increase in the number of individuals that received Food Stamps from 2007 to 2008. The current statistics are trending alarmingly higher.
Who Are The People Who Manna Helps?
Our clients are typically part of hard-working families who do not have enough resources to provide food for themselves and their families. They are forced to make choices between food and everyday necessities and Manna is here to help provide them with food.Children
Nearly half of the people that Manna helps are children. They are especially vulnerable to effects of hunger. They are the innocent victims of circumstances beyond their control. Some children go to bed without dinner; relying on the meals they receive at school to sustain them.
Senior Citizens
A good many of our clients are senior citizens who live on fixed incomes. The reality is these dollars just do not stretch far enough in Montgomery County's challenging economic environment. Healthcare costs often place a serious burden on the elderly. Expensive but necessary prescriptions and other uncovered medical care often force them to choose between paying for health care or stocking their pantries.
People who are Ill or Disabled
When a family member is faced with an illness or injury, it can impact the family's ability to purchase food. Many permanently disabled people will never earn enough to be completely self-sufficient, and Manna's assistance enables them to live as independently as possible.
The Working Poor
Most people are surprised that many of our clients are employed. The current cost of living in Montgomery County often means that their dollars do not stretch far enough to cover their basic needs. The escalating costs of housing, health care, food, transportation, and utilities are squeezing more and more families. When funds are low, the rent, doctor, and utility companies get paid first and what's left is what people spend on food; often there just isn't enough money to feed their family. By receiving food from Manna they are able to stretch their limited budgets a little further and pay meet their basic human need for nourishment, shelter and health care.