HUNGER IN AMERICA 2010

GENERAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

How do we know Hunger in America 2010 is scientifically sound?

Hunger in America 2010 is the largest, most comprehensive study of domesticemergency food assistance ever conducted. The study provides comprehensive andstatistically valid data on the national charitable response to hunger and the peopleserved by food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in the Feeding America network.This report is based on independent research conducted on behalf of Feeding Americaby Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR), a widely respected social policy researchfirm based in Princeton, New Jersey. MPR is nationally recognized as a leader in thefield of human services research. Feeding America contracted with MPR to work with185 network member participants who voluntarily agreed to collect data in theircommunities.All aspects of the study were overseen by an independent Technical Advisory Group(TAG). The TAG was composed of noted social scientists, including demographers,economists, survey research specialists and statisticians, who reviewed the surveyinstruments, the analysis plan, and the final results.

The TAG members’ impartiality,

broad range of expertise and regular critical oversight of the project was vital toensuring that the Hunger in America 2010 project adhered to the highest standards insurvey research.

How was the data collected?

There are two main data sources for Hunger in America 2010: client data and agencydata, both of which were collected in the late winter and spring of 2009. Both the clientand agency data collection instruments mirror the questionnaires used in the 2006Hunger Study, with a few additional questions that were developed for the 2009 datacollection effort. Each of the participating food banks provided MPR with a list of all theagencies in their service area, including information on what types of emergency foodprograms they offer (pantry, kitchen, shelter or multi-program). Mathematica samplingstatisticians then drew initial samples from the agencies where the client interviewswere to take place.

In order to ensure data collection standardization across the country, MPR conductedthree regional, two-day in-depth training sessions for all participating food banks. Clientdata was collected through face-to-face interviews with randomly selected recipients atemergency feeding sites across the country. Approximately 61,000 individuals (77.0% of eligible clients) offered to share their stories with us, including the circumstances of what led them to the pantry, kitchen or shelter at which they were interviewed. Theirwillingness to participate in this study makes it possible for us to better understand whoseeks emergency food assistance and why.In addition, participating food banks also mailed surveys to their member agenciesseeking information about the services available to low-income Americans, and theagencies' needs and stability. Approximately 50,000 surveys were mailed out and a littlemore than 37,000 usable agency survey responses were returned, a 74% response rate.MPR provided technical assistance with the implementation of the agency and clientsurveys. MPR was responsible for data analysis and the writing of the national and localreports, a process which occurred during summer and fall 2009.

How big was the sampling for in Hunger in America 2010?

More than 185 food banks in the Feeding America Network participated in thehunger study. Collectively, they conducted 61,000 face-to-face client interviews,and more than 37,000 agencies in the Network completed the agency survey.

What is the margin of error for the national report?

The data in the national report is subject to a 90 confidence interval with a +/- 1.5percentage points. Data specifically examining kitchens and shelters (and notpantries) is subject to a margin of error due to sampling design of +/- 2.5 percentagepoints because of the smaller number of these programs (the majority of emergencyfood programs are pantries). As discussed in the full report, estimates may also besubject to other forms of error, such as non-response error and measurement error,which cannot be fully quantified in this study.Standard errors at the individual food bank level are considerably higher, due to themuch smaller number of observations at this level. For example, the averagestandard error across the network for the annual client count is 26.6% and 16.6% forthe weekly client count (the weekly client count standard error is lower becausethere are fewer factors involved in calculating the unduplicated count at the weeklylevel than at the annual level). These larger sampling errors mean that results at theindividual food bank must be interpreted with careful attention to this issue. Thelarger standard errors at the food bank level are not uncommon for small areasurveys, and are a trade-off between the amount of data that can be collected undersuch a detailed study design without being prohibitively expensive andoverwhelming to agencies and clients.

What can the average person do to help emergency food assistance agencies servehungry people?

Become a hunger advocate, or donate food, funds and time to your local FeedingAmerica Network food bank, food-rescue organization or the agencies they serve.To learn more, visit www.feedingamerica.org.

Why is this study important?

Hunger in America 2010 is the largest, most comprehensive study ever conducted onemergency food distribution in the United States. While the annual USDAhousehold security report provides a snapshot of how many people are hungry andfood insecure in the United States each year, this study evaluates one of the mostimportant response mechanisms to hunger and food insecurity in the UnitedStates

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the charitable food distribution Network. The data gleaned from this reportwill be used moving forward to support public policies, program implementation,operations and other decisions that will greatly impact the future of food securityfor low-income Americans.The USDA reported in November, 2009 that 49 million Americans live at risk of hunger, including 17 million children.

What can be done to eradicate hunger?

We can end hunger in America, but no one can do it alone. We must continue tocollaborate in public-private partnerships with government officials and thecharitable food distribution network to protect safety-net Federal nutritionprograms and ensure that adequate, nutritious food is available through thecharitable distribution network for every person who needs help.

What are the short- and long-term effects of hunger on particular segments of ourpopulation, such as children and the elderly?

Although there are long-term effects of hunger and malnutrition among all whosuffer its devastating effects, children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. As

children’s brains and bodies develop, sufficient nutrition is key to developmentally

appropriate growth. Research shows that children who miss meals or skip keynutrients suffer behaviorally, cognitively, and psychosocially (see, for example, Cook,

J. and Jeng, K. (2009) “Child Food Insecurity: The Economic Impact on our Nation”)

.The elderly, with their particular vulnerability to poverty and their decreasedmobility, are also especially at risk of hunger. Research shows that adequatenutrition is vitally important to quality of life in later years.

How prevalent is hunger among minority communities such as African Americansand Latinos?