HUNGER IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY

Each month, thousands of local residents with limited income are faced with a difficult decision: to pay bills or put food on their tables.  In many cases, they feel compelled to choose the shelter and security of their homes or the necessity of their utilities or medical treatment as their top priority, and fill their stomachs – and those of their family - with whatever money is left.

Imperial Valley Food Bank has had to address not only this reality, but the additional challenges of our country’s current economic situation as well as Imperial County’s status of bearing the highest unemployment rate in the nation for nearly two consecutive years.  These compounded circumstances have resulted in a roughly 35-40% increase in demand for our services.

HUNGER IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY BY THE NUMBERS

ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, 2006 ESTIMATE:
Number of individuals in Imperial County living below poverty level:  29,681
% of individuals in Imperial County living below poverty level:  22.6%

INFORMATION FROM CALIFORNIA FOOD POLICY ADVOCATES (full report and methodology at www.cfpa.net):
Estimated number of low-income adults reporting hunger or food insecurity in Imperial County:  13,000
Estimated number of other persons living in these households:  45,000
Total number "touched" by hunger and food insecurity in Imperial County:  > 58,000
Estimated number of kids eligible for free/reduced price school breakfast: 18,844
Estimated number of eligible kids not getting free/reduced price breakfast:  11,989
Estimated amount of lost federal resources resulting from the unserved breakfasts:  $2,343,896
Number of food stamp recipients in Imperial County in 2002:  16,561
Estimated maximum amount of federal dollars gained if 100% of eligible county residents got food stamps:  $14,102,023
 

LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HUNGER AND POVERTY

IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY:

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS - LABOR & UNEMPLOYMENT DATA

CALIFORNIA FOOD POLICY ADVOCATES - Imperial COUNTY Nutrition Profile & Poverty DATA

IN CALIFORNIA:

CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS

California Hunger Action Coalition

Hunger Action Los Angeles

CA Employment Development Department - Unemployment data

IN THE UNITED STATES:

FEEDING AMERICA

USDA NATIONAL FACTS AND FIGURES

USDA BRIEFING ROOM ON FOOD SECURITY

FOOD RESEARCH AND ACTION CENTER (FRAC) NATIONAL STATISTICS