Advocacy for the Poor

The ability to obtain enough food is the most basic of human needs, yet many living in the U.S. today report having to make choices between paying for food and paying for other necessities such as shelter, medical care and utilities.
Hunger is defined as the inability to purchase enough food to meet basic nutritional needs. Hunger does not discriminate - it affects the elderly, the working poor, the unemployed, the disabled, the homeless, victims of natural disasters and children.
As of June 2009, 35.1 million Americans were participants in the government nutrition assistance programs Women, Infant and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This is a 22% increase from 2008 reports
The latest data on Forsyth county participation comes from June 2009 and shows a rapid increase in use of public assistance program between January and June 2009.

Between January 2009 and June 2009 The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) signed up 4,102 people for nutrition assistance programs, that’s almost 1/3 of the total number of people who enrolled in nutrition programs between 2005 and 2009.
56% are either younger than 18 or older than 59.

NC Schools provide meals to students in the Summer Nutrition Program. While 79,500 children participated that is a mere 14% of those eligible for the program.
- In 2007, NC effectively returned $8,189,964 dollars to the federal government because it could not reach or provide meals to at least 40% of those eligible for the program. If NC had reached 40% and received that $8 million, the state could have fed 135,888 students in the summer of 2007.

The Consequences

Food banks and food pantries are facing empty shelves because due to an increase in need resulting from the economic downturn. The economy has also affected contributors’ abilities to give food or financial support at a time when they are trying to serve more and more people.
When a child’s natural abilities and talents are diminished due to under-nutrition, it not only affects that child but our community in terms of higher rates of school failure, poor returns on educational investment and future weakened workforce productivity.
Older adults are also affected by inadequate nutrition. They are more vulnerable to disease and conditions that may impair their ability to live independently. Poor diets can contribute to these potential problems – or even exacerbate them.
Foods that are the least expensive are often not the most healthy, which over the long-term leads to health problems such as heart disease, obesity, and malnutrition for those who cannot afford fresh fruits and vegetables and foods that are lower in fat and sodium.

Taking Action

Advocacy for the Poor is involved in supporting federal and state legislation that can help fight hunger. We work to change policies and improve laws by encouraging meaningful dialogue and informed decision making with our leaders.

Sign-up for our email alerts and be a part of the solution!

Resources