Unprecedented Number of South Dakotans Seeking Emergency Food Assistance

Largest, Most Comprehensive Study Ever Conducted On Emergency Food Distribution Reports that in South Dakota 78,000 Clients Served Annually; Over 28,000 Children and 7,000 Seniors in Need
 
SIOUX FALLS/RAPID CITY, SD--- FEBRUARY 2, 2010--- A landmark study released today by the Community Food Banks of South Dakota and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, reports that more than 78,400 people, including 28,224  children, receive emergency food each year through the Community Food Banks of South Dakota.

An estimated 20,800 people receive emergency food assistance each week from a food pantry, soup kitchen, or other agency served by the Community Food Banks of South Dakota.

The methodology incorporated into the 2010 study includes data collected from February through June, 2009.  The Community Food Banks of South Dakota conducted face-to-face interviews with 286 people seeking emergency food at food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs, as well as interviews with more than 338 agencies that provide food assistance.

Among the highlights of findings in the Community Food Banks of South Dakota report:
 

• In the statewide area served by the Community Food Banks of South Dakota, more than 21% of the interviewed client households are experiencing very low food security—or hunger.
• 74% of the clients served have incomes below the federal poverty level (Table 5.8.2.1) during the previous month.
• 36% of the members of households in South Dakota are children under 18 years old (Table 5.3.2).
• 32% of clients in South Dakota report having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities or heating fuel (Table 6.5.1).
• 29% had to choose between paying for food and paying their rent or mortgage (Table 6.5.1).
• 36% of households include at least one employed adult (Table 5.7.1).
• 28% of households in South Dakota report having at least one household member in poor health (Table 8.1.1)
• 42% of client households in South Dakota are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (Table 7.1.1); however, it is likely that many more are eligible (Table 7.3.2).

Following are statements were the result of observations by staff that did client interviews and were obviously moved by what they heard and saw:
 

• During a client interview on one of the Native American reservations the interviewer stated “What was heart wrenching to me was interviewing a veteran who is living in his van at the local land fill.” Monica Leitheiser, Rapid City Site Manager
• “What came as a surprise to me after several client interviews was not the percentage of those that were receiving SNAP benefits, but the length of time that they had been on the program…some had been receiving benefits for ten, fifteen, and over twenty years.  That is nearly a generations worth of time that a family has had to depend on some kind of assistance for enough food to eat.” Anthony V. Walters, Warehouse Manager
• “I interviewed many families and individuals during the hunger study. Many had family members working, but still needed help providing enough food for their families.  Incomes in South Dakota are not keeping up with the expense for paying for basic needs.” Kay Torney, Network Services Manager

Feeding America’s 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 food assistance. The number of children and adults in need of food as a result of experiencing food insecurity has significantly increased.

Nationally, more than one in three client households are experiencing very low food security—or hunger—a 54% 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 America’s more than 200 food banks, including the Community Food Banks of South Dakota. This is a 27 percent increase over numbers reported in Hunger in America 2006 (note:  link to 06/10 comparison fact sheet), which reported that 4.5 million people were served each week.   
“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 necessities,” said Vicki Escarra, 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 that we ensure that no child goes to bed hungry in America as they truly are our engine of economic growth and future vitality.”   

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 37,000 agency surveys, making this study the largest, most-comprehensive ever conducted on domestic hunger.    
 
USDA reported in November 2009 that an estimated 49 million people, including 17 million children, are at risk of hunger in this country.  Hunger In America 2010 reinforces the dramatically increasing need for food assistance in the United States.

A copy of the report with South Dakota data is has been attached to this email and will be available on our website at http://www.sdfoodbanks.org later today.  The full national report is also available on Feeding America's web site at Hunger in America 2010.
 
About Community Food Banks of South Dakota
The Community Food Banks of South Dakota is the state’s largest charitable hunger relief organization whose mission it is to eliminate hunger in our communities, regions and state. We secure and distribute donations of quality nutritious food, along with other surplus and purchased foods to over 500 charitable organizations across the state. These organizations then provide this food to individuals who are “food insecure” through on site feeding programs, emergency food pantries, after school programs and mass distribution programs. For more information on how you can help fight hunger in South Dakota visit http://www.sdfoodbanks.org .

About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,068 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. Feeding America is based in Chicago. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Feeding America  or follow our news on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Feedingamerica.

For more information regarding Hunger in America 2010 in South Dakota contact:

Sioux Falls site:     
Matt Gassen, Executive Director
605-335-0364
matt@sdfoodbanks.org

Kay Torney, Network Services Manager
605-335-0364
kay@sdfoodbanks.org

Rapid City site:        
Monica Leitheiser, Site Manager
605-348-2689
monica@sdfoodbanks.org

Tony Walters
605-348-2689
tony@sdfoodbanks.org