Heat or Eat? Millions of Americans Forced to Make the Choice This Winter
Energy costs and food insecurity reach record highs
CHICAGO --- December 12, 2005 --- Many regions in the United States are experiencing record-low temperatures this December as food insecurity and energy costs are both at an all-time high. The winter months will be more than gloomy for millions of American families forced to choose between heat and hunger this holiday season.
The high cost of heat is straining budgets to the breaking point,
threatening to send more and more people to food pantries, soup kitchens and
other emergency-food charities.These additional demands will place a tremendous
strain on food banks and food-rescue organizations, many of which are
experiencing declines in food and financial donations this
year.
According to a recent report from The United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) more than 38 million Americans—including nearly
14 million children—are living on the brink of hunger. This is a 12
percent increase over last year. Additionally, the United States Energy
Department reports that heating bills are 26 percent higher this December than a
year ago. Both of these dramatic rises represent the largest increases
since 2000.
“The struggle to find adequate nutrition for millions of Americans is a real and growing problem, and is only likely to become more dire with the skyrocketing costs of heating fuel this winter,” said Robert Forney, president and CEO of America’s Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network. “This year, America's Second Harvest Members nationwide are depending more than ever on the generosity of their communities for donations both food and funds, in order to meet increasing demands for emergency food assistance.”
The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved a budget reconciliation bill to reduce the federal deficit that would cut 220,000 Food Stamp Program recipients over a five year period. The Senate approved a similar version of the bill that refrains from cutting food stamps, and an agreement is expected to be reached in conference early in 2006.
More than 200 food banks and food-rescue organizations in the America’s Second Harvest Network are involved with local holiday feeding programs and fund-and-food drives.
# # #
America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank Network is largest charitable hunger-relief organization in the country, with a Network of more than 200 Member food banks and food-rescue organizations serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The 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 after-school programs, emergency shelters, food pantries, Kids Cafes and soup kitchens. Last year, the Network provided food assistance to more than 23 million hungry people in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors. For more information on the America's Second Harvest Network, please visit www.secondharvest.org .
