Local Contact:

Jeremy Butterfield, PR Coordinator SWVA Second Harvest Food Bank 1025 Electric Road, Salem, VA 24153(540) 342-3011 ext. 23, cell: (828) 748-9747 jbutterfield@swvafoodbank.org

National Contact:

Ross Fraser, Media Relations Manager Feeding America, National Office35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2000Chicago, IL 60601tel 312-641-6422rfraser@feedingamerica.org

Landmark New Study Reveals an Unprecedented Number of Southwest Virginia Residents Seeking Emergency Food Assistance

Largest, Most Comprehensive Report Ever Conducted On Emergency Food Distribution Reports 60 Percent Increase in Clients Served Annually; Nearly 70,000 Children and 14,119 Seniors in Need

Southwest, VA --- February 2, 2010

--- A landmark study released today by the SouthwesternVirginia Second Harvest Food Bank and

Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger

-relief organization, reports that more than 201,000 people, including 66,561 children, receiveemergency food each year through Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank. Thefindings represent a 60 percent increase since the findings reported in Hunger in America 2006.

Hunger in America 2010 is the first research study to capture the significant connection between the recent economic downturn and an increased need for emergency foodassistance. The number of children and adults in need of food as a result of experiencing foodinsecurity has significantly increased.An estimated 27,400 people receive emergency food assistance each week from a food pantry,soup kitchen, or other agency served by the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank. Nationally, more than one in three client households are experiencing very low food security

—

or hunger

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a 54 percent increase in the number of households compared to four years ago.An estimated 5.7 million people receive emergency food assistance each week from a food pantry, soup kitchen, or other agency served by one of Feeding Ame

rica’s more than 200 food

banks, including the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank. This is a 27 percentincrease over numbers reported in

Hunger in America 2006,

which reported that 4.5 million people were served each week.

―This study fortifies what we have been witnessing throughout our service territory,‖ saidPamela Irvine, President & CEO of the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank. ―Our

partner agency feeding programs serve areas in Virginia hardest hit by the economic downturnand unfortunately the counties we serve have some of the highest unemployment rates in thisstate. This study shows that an estimated 42 percent of clients served by our partner agencies areforced between paying for food and paying for utilities, and that is a choice no family should

have to make.‖

―It is morally reprehensible that we live in the wealthiest nation in the world where one in

six people are struggling to make choices between food and other basic n

ecessities,‖ said

VickiEscarra, president and CEO of Feeding America.

―These are choices that no one should have to

make, but particularly households with children. Insufficient nutrition has adverse effects on the physical, behavioral and mental health, and academic performance of children. It is critical thatwe ensure that no child goes to bed hungry in America as they truly are our engine of economic

growth and future vitality.‖

The methodology incorporated into the 2010 study includes data collected from Februarythrough June, 2009. The Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank conducted face-to-face interviews with 379 people seeking emergency food at food pantries, soup kitchens andother emergency feeding programs, as well as interviews with more than 180 agencies that provide food assistance. Nationally, Feeding America collected quantitative and qualitative feedback from 61,000 face-to-face in-depth interviews with people seeking emergency food assistance and more than 37,000agency surveys, making this study the largest, most-comprehensive ever conducted on domestichunger.USDA reported in November 2009 that an estimated 49 million people, including 17 millionchildren, are at risk of hunger in this country.

Hunger In America 2010

reinforces thedramatically increasing need for food assistance in the United States.Among the key findings in the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank report:Among households with seniors, 60% face low, to very low food security

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or hunger.27% of client households report having to choose between paying their rent or mortgageand food.34% of client households have at least one adult working.21% of clients report that they or someone in their household does not have access tohealth insurance.60% of clients have unpaid medical or hospital bills.53% of clients are currently receiving SNAP benefits.A summary of the national and regional findings is available at www.swvafoodbank.org.