Caring Hearts Network 

In addition to the senior population, evidence shows that older adults who are slightly younger – including those in their 50s – may be particularly vulnerable to certain health and nutrition challenges at higher rates than older seniors.

More than 5 million senior citizens age 60 and older face hunger. Seniors face a number of unique medical and mobility challenges that put them at a greater risk of hunger. After a lifetime of hard work, many find themselves struggling with health issues on fixed incomes. Many of these individuals are forced to choose between paying for groceries and buying medicine.

Feeding America addresses the unique challenges of senior hunger through interventions that take into account the health status, medication needs, transportation, physical limitations and dietary restrictions of older Americans. As the proportion of people over the age of 60 continues to grow, Feeding America continues to develop innovative initiatives to get more food to more seniors in need. 

In the United States today, 15 million children face hunger. Consequently, one in five kids are facing greater obstacles to reaching their fullest potential. The future of America lies in our children. When hunger threatens the future of a child, it threatens the future of our nation as well. 

Food insecurity is harmful to all people, but it is particularly devastating to children. Proper nutrition is critical to a child’s development. Not having enough of the right kinds of food can have serious implications for a child’s physical and mental health, academic achievement and future economic prosperity. 

As a leading charity organization, Feeding America is dedicated to helping solve the child hunger problem. Our network of community food banks serves 12 million children.

FACTS:

Good nutrition, particularly in the first three years of life, is important for establishing a good foundation that has implications for a child’s future physical and mental health, academic achievement, and economic productivity. Unfortunately, food insecurity is an obstacle that threatens that critical foundation. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 15.3 million children under 18 in the United States live in households where they are unable to consistently access enough nutritious food necessary for a healthy life.^[i] Although food insecurity is harmful to any individual, it can be particularly devastating among children due to their increased vulnerability and the potential for long-term consequences.

The Feeding America network of food bank reaches every county in the nation. We target the most vulnerable populations to help make sure no American—no matter what community they belong to—goes without the food they need to feed their family. 

While hunger has no boundaries, it does impact some communities more than others. African Americans are more likely to suffer from food insecurity as their white, non-Hispanic counterparts. They are disproportionately affected by unemployment and poverty as well.

The Latino population in the United States has nearly doubled in the past decade and continues to grow. Currently, Latino communities are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity, poverty and unemployment. They are also less likely to receive support through federal nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and are at greater risk of developing diet-related illnesses. Consequently, the Feeding America network understands the urgency of reaching Latino populations with interventions targeted to meet their specific needs. 

According to USDA data, challenges facing rural areas differ from metro/urban areas in several significant ways. Learn more about the facts of rural poverty and hunger.

Rates of food insecurity among rural households are generally higher than urban households. The irony is that many of these food-insecure households are in the very rural and farm communities whose productivity feeds the world and provides low-cost wholesome food for American consumers.