As in any other playoff, candidate rhetoric let loose during the U.S. presidential race can be tough. We’ve held a front row seat to the 2012 showdown for over a year, with tensions still rising as the general election looms nearer. Some of the barbs launched along the campaign trail have been laughable: Newt Gingrich’s television ad incriminating Mitt Romney for his ability to speak French comes to mind. Others are not. The dialogue surrounding U.S. poverty and inequality, two issues that are hotter than ever during a deep recession that the nation has shown incapable of simply shaking off [...]
Food Insecurity
‘Food deserts’ may not be to blame
OPINION: The notion of “food deserts” can be misleading. Often, poor access to good food is not the primary barrier to healthy eating, and increasing access may not lead to better health outcomes. Factors such as prices, preparation time and skill, level of education, transportation, cultural practices and taste must also be considered when addressing pervasive nutrition... »
USDA plans statewide projects on free school meals
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service is collaborating with six states on new projects to connect eligible low-income children with free school meals automatically, based on information received from Medicaid. The new process should improve the efficiency and efficacy of free school lunch programs. »
Food stamp recipients reach record levels in Texas
Texas has created one million jobs in recent years, but a record number of Texans, 3.6 million, depend on the federal food stamp program. This seeming-paradox highlights the disparity between employment and economic stability: Many newly-created jobs do not pay enough to cover basic living expenses such as transportation, rent, electricity, and food. Photo... »
Mississippi leads U.S. in reliance on food stamps
Mississippi has a higher percentage of population receiving food stamps than any other state in the nation. Some 24 percent of its citizens rely on the federal program, and the numbers continue to climb. Experts say the rising numbers in part reflect the hardships caused by the economic downturn, but they began to notice the increases... »
Georgia’s No Kid Hungry campaign fights rising child hunger
The No Kid Hungry campaign has arrived in Athens, Ga. in response to the state’s shocking childhood hunger statistics: An estimated 27 percent of Georgia children don’t know where their next meal is coming from. No Kid Hungry helps children access pre-established aid and nutrition programs and raises awareness about food insecurity and its solutions. »
Summer break means hunger to students who rely on subsidized school lunches
Students relying on free and reduced-price school lunches face food insecurity during school breaks. One in four children in Oakland, Calif.’s Bay Area School District are at risk of hunger, so the district is taking part in a federal program that runs June to August. Officials plan to serve over 100,000 subsidized meals at community... »
Growing numbers struggling with food insecurity
A recent study by Feeding America concludes that 79,000 residents of eastern Illinois struggle with food insecurity, and more than half of them do not qualify for federal assistance. An estimated $31.5 million is needed for local food shortages, but recent cuts to federal programs have forced many organizations to downsize. Regional soup kitchens... »
Food prices surge, economic recovery affected
Americans are noticing food prices rising, but the prices have still not reached their peak. The cold weather accounts for most the recent price increases, with last month’s rising by the steepest percentage in 36 years. More expensive food means less spending on areas that stimulate the economy. »
17 million households had trouble feeding themselves in 2009
Over 17 million households in America report having had difficulty buying all the food they needed last year. Almost 15 percent of total families were considered “food insecure,” meaning they were uncertain of having, or were unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all their family members. One in four Americans... »