Child hunger in America

Stat house
May 2003

Child hunger in America

One in four people in a soup kitchen line is a child (Hunger in America 2001).

Of the more than 23 million emergency food recipients served by America's Second Harvest, more than 9 million are children (Hunger in America 2001).

In 2000, approximately 13 million American children were food insecure, meaning they were hungry or at risk of hunger (United States Department of Agriculture, Household Food Security in the United States , March, 2001).

Among client households with children, 76 percent are food insecure and 37 percent are experiencing hunger (Hunger in America 2001).

In 2000, slightly more than half of all food stamp recipients were children. About 68 percent of these children were school age. Most of the food stamp households with children were headed by single adults, with half of these households receiving cash assistance in addition to food stamp benefits. (United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, Characteristics of Food Stamp Households: Fiscal Year 2000, October 2001).

In 2002, demand for emergency food assistance climbed an average of 19 percent in 25 major cities (U.S. Conference of Mayors, Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities , December 2002).

Recent research indicates that even mild undernutrition experienced by young children during critical periods of growth may lead to reductions in physical growth and affect brain development (The Links Between Nutrition and Cognitive Development of Children, 1998, Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy).

The Facts about Child Hunger in the Summer

During fiscal year 2002, almost 16 million children ate free or reduced price lunches through the School Lunch Program. Yet during the same fiscal year, an average of 1.8 million children participated in the Summer Food Service Program daily (USDA program data).

63 percent of households with children served by America's Second Harvest's agencies regularly use the school breakfast and/or lunch program. 13 percent of households with children served by America's Second Harvest participate in summer food programs (Hunger in America 2001).

46 percent of all pantries, 68 percent of all kitchens, and 29 percent of all shelters report seeing many more children in the summer months (Ibid.).

June 5 is National Hunger Awareness Day.

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