Who's Hungry?
People are not supposed to go hungry in America or in Oregon, but they do. They do not go hungry due to a shortage of food. They are hungry because they cannot afford to pay for all their basic needs and still purchase a sufficient supply of food to feed their families. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food is the second largest expense for families with children.
Our Children
In West Lane County alone, there are many children receiving assistance through Florence Food Share. Statistics show that children who are undernourished are at greater risk for serious health, social, and educational problems. Our goal is to ensure that each and every child in need of food has an opportunity to receive nutritional meals despite their family economic conditions.
Our Seniors
Every year, millions of older Americans—people who have helped build our nation—suffer from hunger, lacking the appropriate access to nutritional foods. In a nation of plenty, it is unacceptable that so many senior citizens are in need of food. Florence Food Share assists other food programs in our area including Senior Meals by providing bread and desserts to be served with the meals they offer.
The Working
Throughout Lane County, there are hard-working individuals and families who are classified as the "working poor." These are people who have regular employment, but are unable to earn enough money to meet their monthly needs. Although these individuals and families strive to secure adequate income, many are often unable to meet their own most basic needs, let alone find the time, transportation, education, and other resources needed to improve their situation.
As a result of their severely limited incomes, each day many of our citizens must choose between spending their limited resources on food or paying their utilities, rent or mortgage, or needed medical care and medicine. People are often surprised to find that they financially qualify for food box service from Florence Food Share.
Rural Families
Many rural households suffer from food insecurity—the statistical measurement of hunger or near-hunger—at greater rates that the rest of the nation. A number of factors, including unemployment, transportation barriers, and access to grocers, contribute to hunger in rural America. It is a sad reminder that hunger persists in our nation when so many people go hungry in the very communities where food is produced. Florence Food Share reaches out to rural communities in an effort to assist those in need.
The Oregon Food Bank Network conducts the Hunger Factors Assessment (HFA) every two years to determine the economic, social, health and other factors that create the need for food assistance. <Click here for a full report>
Resources
Please refer to the following resources for further information:
