Hunger Action Week home page
	Give money to United Way's Response to Basic Needs.
	Volunteer to help end hunger.
	Learn more about hunger.
	United Way blog
Print version Forward this Article Subscribe to Newsletter

• A growing number of people in King County need help with food.
  The daily number of calls asking for help with food received by the King County 2-1-1 community information referral line increased 53 percent from September 2007 to December 2008.
• Food banks are stretched. Washington, King County, and Seattle have seen a substantial increase in the number of families accessing food banks. The Washington state food distribution system experienced a 15 percent increase in new clients during the first quarter of 2008 and a 28 percent increase in new clients during the second quarter. In 2009, the number of visits has declined very slightly from late 2008, but visits remain higher than 2007 numbers. Based on data from Seattle food banks, the largest increase in food bank beneficiaries was for children 0-2, followed by other children under 18.
• Gaps in the emergency food system hinder response to increasing need. Along with increased demand, food bank and meal programs are struggling with steep and sustained increases in food prices and diminished donations.
• Food stamps and other public benefits are going unused. According to the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, as of January 2009, more than 130,000 people in King County received food benefits, although the food stamp program is still not reaching 30 percent of eligible people.

Food Lifeline has estimated the gap between the total number of meals needed for low-income people in King County (185 percent of federal poverty level or below) to be food secure and the number of meals currently available. The Missing Meals report shows that 50.9 million more meals were needed in 2008 in King County to ensure that all low-income families and individuals have three nutritious meals a day. That means that another 137,000 meals are needed each day.

Percentage of Total Meals in King County

Hunger enters people's lives in a variety of ways, causes hardships most of us could not endure, and is not easily relieved.

Jennifer says: I was a young, uneducated single mother who waited tables to support myself and my son. I got sick and could not make work for two shifts. Because of that, I could afford my rent but no groceries. I called around and found a local food bank. I was embarrassed and humbled.

Beau says: Seventeen years ago, I was a food bank client. I had chronic seizures and was too ill to keep a job. I was living on the streets and in shelters, had no money, no job, and no family or friends around for support. At some point, someone introduced me to the notion of food banks. And while the food bank didn't solve all my problems, it was a very critical piece that sustained me while I climbed out of the hole I was in.

Grace says: While my family has not seen it all, we have seen a lot. I remember standing in line at the food bank. Although my father worked full-time we needed the food bank in order to stretch out the food we were able to afford. With four children ranging in age from two months to 10 years, there was a lot of stretching to do. We did experience a season of "middle class" but with my father's death in 1998 we plunged back to low income. Once again, food, one of the most basic needs, was not always accessible to us.