Federal Nutrition Program Cuts Leaves Nearly 50,000 Seniors at Risk of Hunger
Hunger rises as poor elderly are cut from Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
> Read about how this will potentially affect one senior in Nevada.
CHICAGO - January 23, 2006 - With energy bills at an all time high many low-income seniors will be forced to make choices between heat and food this winter as they lose the benefits of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Federal support for this program, which provides food boxes to low-income seniors, women and young children in 32 states, the District of Columbia and two Indian tribal areas, has been cut back sharply. Declining government donations of surplus commodities and inadequate appropriations to make up for this loss will mean that some 48,000, mostly elderly, participants will be cut from the CSFP this year.
“Hunger is has been on the rise for five straight years with an estimated 38 million Americans living on the brink of hunger, said Robert Forney, President and CEO of America's Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network. “Now is not the time to cut federal nutrition programs. As a result, thousands of seniors will be forced to rely on our Network of food banks and food-rescue organizations for a meal this winter.”
CSFP provides nutritious food boxes to low income seniors and low income women, infants and children. Senior households account for 88 percent of CSFP caseloads and are disproportionately affected by the program cuts. CSFP food boxes include a range of USDA supported commodities that help low-income families supplement their often meager diets. Approximately 40 percent of all CSFP commodity food packages are currently distributed through America’s Second Harvest Member food banks.
An estimated $11.5 million in additional funding would be necessary to ensure that all of the seniors current enrolled in CSFP would continue receiving benefits.
“We strongly encourage the USDA to purchase commodities to help fill this gap,” said Forney. “Additionally, it is critical that Congress and the Administration maintain funding levels for federal nutrition programs as the Fiscal Year 2007 discussions are underway.”
The America’s Second Harvest Network of more than 200 food banks and food-rescue organizations services nearly 3 million seniors each year.
“It tragic that many of our neighbors who worked hard their entire lives are now at risk of spending their last years hungry,” said Forney. “It is time for our Congress and the Administration to support public policies that ensure that none of our seniors go to bed hungry at night.
For more information on the America's Second Harvest Network, please visit www.secondharvest.org.
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America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank Network is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the country with a Network of more than 200 Member food banks and food - rescue programs serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The America's Second Harvest Network secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually; and supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies operating more than 94,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. Last year, the America's Second Harvest Network provided food assistance to more than 23 million low-income hungry people in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors. For more on America's Second Harvest, please visit www.secondharvest.org.
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Contact:
MAURA DALY
Office: 312.641.6421
Cell:
301.943.3733
