SEATTLE - Almost one in five households in Washington State, including those with children, reported they didn’t have enough money to buy the food they needed in 2009.
According to a new report released by the Food Research and Action Center, an average of 23 percent of families across the state are having difficulties feeding their families and those with children, the report stated, are harder hit.
The national level of families struggling to put enough food on the table peaked in the fourth quarter of 2008 at 19.5 percent then slid slightly to 18.5 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.
While a decrease was seen on the national level, an increase was seen in Washington State going from 16 percent in 2008 to 18 percent in 2009.
“This report confirms that the recession is taking a heavy toll on families across Washington state, and the number of kids who spend their days hungry is on the rise,” said Linda Stone, senior food policy coordinator at the Children’s Alliance.
“Our state and national lawmakers need to make it a top priority to protect meal programs that keep our children well nourished and ready to learn.”
Spokane County’s food hardship rate was higher than the state average at 20 percent in 2008-09, and was even higher for families with children at 28 percent.
According to Children’s Alliance, these new numbers are especially relevant as child nutrition programs are up for reauthorization before Congress this year.
The Children’s Alliance has joined FRAC in calling for improvements to a range of federal nutrition programs, including school and summer meals.
Last summer only 11 percent of the 300,000 Washington who ate free or reduced-price school breakfasts or lunches during the school year had access to summer meals.
Children's Alliance is urging state lawmakers to help schools, nonprofits, tribes, cities and faith-based organizations hire local people to run summer meal programs, which are underutilized statewide.
Children’s Alliance reported that a modest investment of $250,000 in state dollars could leverage up to $4 million in federal money that would give summer meal programs additional food at a time when hunger-relief organizations are struggling to feed the growing number of families in need.
Sources:
Food hardship: A closer look at hunger
Summertime Hunger in Washington State
FRAC food hardship report
FAQs on food hardship
Children’s Alliance Summertime Hunger in Washington State report
Contacts at Children’s Alliance:
Jon Gould, Deputy Director
Tel: (206) 324-0340 x 19
Cell: (206) 683-2674
Email: jon@childrensalliance.org
Linda Stone, Senior Food Policy Coordinator
Tel: (509) 747-7205
Cell: (509) 844-1314 (cell)
Email: linda@childrensalliance.org
Liz Gillespie, Communications Manager
Tel: (206) 324-0340 x18
Cell: (206) 589-0293
Email: liz@childrensalliance.org
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