Poverty Rising: The Need for Food Escalates
The number of people in the U.S. who are in poverty increased from 13.2 percent to 14.3 percent in 2009. That means that 50 million people in this country, 1 in 6, were poor last year.
In the five-county (Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau) area:
- 10.7 percent of the population (17,680 people) are living in poverty which means an individual annual income of $10,890 or less, according to Federal poverty guidelines.
- 7.5 percent of families are living in poverty which means, for a family of four, an annual income of $29,055 or less.
- 25.2 percent of single female head-of-household families have an income below the poverty level.
- A person earning minimum wage ($7.40/hour) has an annual income of $15,392.
- A person earning $12/hour earns an annual wage of $24,960.
Federal poverty guidelines were developed in the 1960’s and do not reflect the cost of living today. For example, a family of four in the Grand Traverse region needs at least $44,020 to cover living expenses (Source: Michigan League for Human Services.)
With the economic downturn, the need for assistance with food has dramatically increased. More and more people are seeking help at the food pantries in the Five County area to help stretch household money. The fresh food from Food Rescue helps meet that need.
Each month, area pantries serve over 22,000 people. This year, area food pantries have helped over 119,000 people as of May.
According to Feeding America’s (www.feedingamerica.org) most recent statistics, in 2009, in the United States:
- 50.2 million Americans lived in food insecure households, 33 million adults and 17.2 million children
- 18.2% of households in Michigan were food insecure
- Households with children reported food insecurity at almost double the rate for those without children, 21.39% compared with 11.4%
- Households that were more likely to experience food insecurity were households with children (21.3%), households with children headed by single women (36.6%) or single men (27.8%), households with incomes below the poverty line (42.2%), Black non-Hispanic households (25.7%) and Hispanic households (24.9%)
- 7.8% of households with seniors (884,000 households) were food insecure
- In 2009, Michigan had 23% of children living in poverty (Kids County Data Center)
- More than one-third of client households report having to choose between food and other basic necessities such as rent, utilities and medical care
To learn how you can donate funds now, click here.
Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan
2279 South Airport Road W. Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone (231) 995-7723 Fax (231) 922-2053
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