New Study: Katrina & Rita Aftermath Leaves Millions of Americans Searching for Meals

Food assistance demands 50 percent higher than before Katrina in impacted states

CHICAGO -- December 15, 2005 --- A new study released today by America's Second Harvest -The Nation’s Food Bank Network reports that demands for emergency food assistance in the Gulf Coast states tripled immediately following Hurricane Katrina.  Demands remain 50 percent higher than before the disaster made landfall on Aug. 29, 2005.  Additionally, of the 6.4 million Americans who requested emergency food assistance in the impacted states following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 4.6 million (72%) of them were seeking food assistance for the first time.

Moreover, food banks in the impacted states reported increasing food distribution by up to 100 percent to meet increased demands, and many are still operating at more than 50 percent above their average monthly food distribution.

"Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had an unprecedented immediate impact on increases in demands for emergency food assistance in the Gulf Coast area,” said Robert Forney, President and CEO of America's Second Harvest.  “America's Second Harvest Network Members have done a tremendous job in providing food to people in need.  This study reinforces the instrumental role that food banks play in the recent  hurricanes and disaster relief services in general."

Low-income families and African Americans were disproportionately impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Households seeking emergency food assistance had median incomes of $26,000 compared to $42,000 for the total area; and 21 percent report having an income less than $10,000, which is more than twice the percentage found throughout the area.  Nearly 40 percent of the households requesting emergency food assistance were African American.

"Poor American families are most vulnerable to all disasters from national catastrophes to everyday hunger,” said Forney.  “With demands still at record high levels in the Gulf Coast states and more than 38 million American living on the brink of hunger nationwide, it is critical for federal and state governments, the private sector and individual donors to invest more than ever in our nation's emergency food distribution infrastructure."

Many agencies that distribute food from America's Second Harvest Network food banks were wiped out by the hurricanes.  Food banks in the primary markets reported more than 85 percent of the agencies they are currently serving are temporary disaster-relief program.  Moreover, of the people receiving food assistance prior to Katrina, 41 percent reported that the agency where they received assistance is no longer in operation.

In response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, the America's Second Harvest Network provided more than 2,000 truckloads carrying 62 million pounds of food providing approximately 48 million meals valued at an estimated $84 million to the Gulf Coast states.

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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.

Tier 1: Bay Area Food Bank, Theodore, AL; Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadania, New Orleans, LA; Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Baton Rouge, LA; Mississippi Food Network, Jackson, MS

Tier 2: The United Way Community Food Bank, Inc., Birmingham, AL; West Alabama Food Bank, Tuscaloosa, AL; Montgomery Area Food Bank, Inc., Montgomery, AL; Food Bank of North Alabama, Huntsville, AL; Arkansas Food Bank Network, Little Rock, AR; Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, Jonesboro, AR; Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, Ft. Smith, AR; Lutheran Social Services Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville, FL; Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Orlando, FL; Harry Chapin Food Bank of Northeast Florida, Ft. Myers, FL; America's Second Harvest of the Big Bend, Inc., Tallahassee, FL; Daily Bread Food Bank, Miami, FL; Food Bank of Southwest Georgia, Albany, GA; America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia, Valdosta, GA; Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, Macon, GA; Golden Harvest Food Bank, Augusta, GA; Second Harvest Food Bank of the Chattahoochee Valley, Columbus, GA; Atlanta Community Food Bank, Atlanta, GA; Northwest Louisiana Food Bank, Shreveport, LA; Food Bank of Central Louisiana, Alexandria, LA; Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana, Monroe, LA; South Central Mississippi Food Bank, Brookhaven, MS; Memphis Food Bank, Memphis, TN; Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Nashville, TN; Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Chattanooga, TN; End Hunger Network, Houston, TX; Houston Food Bank, Houston, TX; North Texas Food Bank, Dallas, TX; Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, Austin, TX; Tarrant Area Food Bank, Ft. Worth, TX; San Antonio Food Bank, San Antonio, TX; Brazos Food Bank, Bryan, TX; Southeast Texas Food Bank, Beaumont, TX; Food Bank of Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX; and East Texas Food Bank, Tyler, TX.

Contact:
MAURA DALY
Office: 312-263-2303 (162)
Cell: 301-943-3733