Study finds hunger extends beyond the homeless
Valley food banks serve the working poor, children, seniors.

By Cyndee Fontana / The Fresno Bee

(Updated Friday, February 24, 2006, 5:39 AM)

Hunger in Fresno, Madera and Kings counties reaches well beyond the homeless and far into the ranks of the working poor, children and senior citizens, according to a study released Thursday.

The study uses information collected for a national report, "Hunger in America 2006," in profiling clients of Fresno's Community Food Bank. The bank sends food to 163 agencies mainly within the three counties; those food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens supply food directly to about 46,700 people each week.

"The problem is growing among a different group of people," said Sarah Reyes, chief executive officer for the food bank.

Among the report's findings:

85% of those served are "food insecure," which means they aren't sure where they will get their next meal.

About two in five people in households served by the food bank are under 18.

Close to half the households include at least one working adult.

More than two-thirds had incomes that fell below the federal poverty level the prior month.

Nearly half the network's clients say they must choose between buying food and paying for utilities or heating fuel. One in four had to choose between food and medicine or medical care.

The report contains several recommendations. Among those are expanding the food bank's mobile pantry program to reach more people in rural areas, broadening partnerships to identify more outlets for food distribution and finding ways to offer more produce.

Pastor John Crumble, president of Liberty Outreach Ministries Inc. in central Fresno, said he sees a great demand in the community.

"We're taking calls every day from people who need food," he said.

About 170,000 people are served annually by agencies in the food bank network; about 4% of those are homeless. Reyes said the number of clients has been fairly constant, but past reports prepared by other agencies suggest that the homeless comprised a greater share.

Other agencies may be shouldering more of that load, which means more and different kinds of people are relying on the food bank network.

"While we still see the need growing, we see it in the working poor," Reyes said.

Data in the report were obtained through interviews with 324 clients and food bank agency surveys.

The local study is part of a larger report conducted on behalf of America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest organization of emergency food providers.
The reporter can be reached at cfontana@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6312.

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The so-called poor are not making decisions between heating and eating. It hasn't been cold here in Fresno for quite a while. They are deciding how much to send to Mexico, how much drugs and alcohol to buy, which restaurant are they eating at, what cable TV package should we get, do we get the standard or super fast broadband internet, and where can we go on vacation. Then they head on down to their local food pantry and social progams office. It's funny how the liberal government is making such irresponsible people out of the so-called poor, and making us pay for it.