1 in 8 Americans Receive Emergency Food Assistance

Would you want to live in a country where one in eight residents receive emergency food assistance each year? If you're an American, it's too late -- you already do.

Feeding America released a shocking report this week on the state of hunger in America, relying on data gathered from its large network of food banks and partner agencies. The report found that 37 million people in the U.S. currently receive emergency food, up 46 percent from 2006. Over one third of those are children.

The report's authors attribute this spike to the economic crisis still plaguing the nation's poor and working classes. In a press release, Feeding America president and CEO Vicki Escarra said the recession and rising unemployment have "driven unprecedented, sharp increases in the need for emergency food assistance and enrollment in federal nutrition programs." And for those Americans who were already struggling with hunger before the economy plummeted, the situation's gone from bad to worse: the report finds a 54 percent increase in the number of client households experiencing "very low food security" -- in other words, outright hunger.

One particularly enlightening, albeit distressing, section of the report centers on the difficult choices America's poor are having to make to stay afloat. Of those served by Feeding America's food banks, almost half report choosing between paying utilities and buying groceries. Almost 40 percent can't afford both housing and meals. The list goes on.

It's completely absurd that one of the world's richest nations would allow these awful statistics to not only continue but actually worsen. What possible excuse could justify 37 million Americans requesting food assistance each year, especially when over a third of these food bank clients have jobs? Why should innocent children go hungry night after night? Everyone seems to agree that "something must be done," yet the statistics remain, and more people are going hungry.

If our politicians won't take proactive steps to help the hungry, then we've got to force them. My suggestion? Send Feeding America's report to your legislators, both state and federal, and demand that they immediately create policies to reverse this downward trend.

You can find Feeding America's full report by clicking here. Also, check out Feeding America's video and radio PSA's for their "1 in 8" campaign to end hunger.

Photo credit: Bruce Tuten