In central N.J. and across the nation, the numbers of people facing "food insecurity" - those without an assured ability to acquire nutritious foods in socially acceptable ways - are growing. One in 7 Americans are considered "food insecure". The highest number in decades.

Of the 49.1 million people living in food insecure households (up from 36.2 million in 2007), 32.4 million are adults (14.4 percent of all adults) and 16.7 million are children (22.5 percent of all children).

10.3% of New Jersey households are food insecure.

In central N.J., those in need are our own neighbors - senior citizens on fixed incomes, single parent families, the unemployed, and the working poor - who struggle to make ends meet. They are young and old, living in families or alone.

More than 100,000 meals were served in the soup kitchen in 2009. 11% of the people we serve are children and 29% are 50 and older.

Because of the high cost of living in NJ, a family of four needs twice the income of the federal poverty level of $20,000 to be self-sufficient. (need an income over $35K and up).

1.7 million people, a fifth of the state's population, are considered poor. (They earn less than twice the federal poverty line).

Food Research and Action Center www.frac.org
Feeding America www.feedingamerica.org
World Hunger Year www.worldhungeryear.org
Anti-Poverty Network of NJ www.antipovertynetwork.org
NJ Anti-Hunger Coalition www.njahc.org