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W

ashington Hunger

Facts and figures about our fight against


hunger in Washington State

No one in Washington State should go hungry


WaFoodCoalition.org

5.6%

8.9 Million

41st

of Washington state residents

Visits per year to Washington

WA ranks 41st in providing

are hungry; this rate is the

Food Banks

school breakfast to students in

same as the nations

22nd

need

1 in 7

470,000

Number of children qualifying

Washington is the 15th

Or about 14.3% Percent of

Hungriest State and 23rd Most

People in Washington are Food

Food Insecure

Insecure

in Washington

1.1 Million

75 cents

67.5%

for free or reduced price lunch

Food Insecure People in

of every SNAP/Basic Food

Number of WIC recipients in

Washington

dollar goes toward essentials

Working Families

like vegetables, fruits, grain


products, meat, and meat
alternatives

Effects of Hunger:

Key Terms:

ehavior IssuesChildren who do not have


enough to eat are more likely to act out,
lack concentration, come to school late, be
absent, and otherwise disrupt the classroom.

B
L
L

ower Physical HealthLess food usually


means less nutrient intake causing problems
with diabetes, compromised immune systems,
obesity, and even increased hospitalization.

ower Lifetime WagesThe Center for


American Progress estimates that hungry
Americans will lose $19.2 billion dollars in
lifetime wages due to higher high school dropout
rates, increased absenteeism in high school, and
missed workdays.

Major Federal Nutrition


Programs*:

ecreased Mental HealthDepression,


anxiety, aggression, and general interest in
or ability to socially interact can all result
from hunger. Hungry adolescents are also five
times more likely to attempt suicide.

conomic StrainIncreased healthcare and


charity costs from hunger put more than a
$140 billion strain on the US economy on top
of lower lifetime wages. Hunger has put a strain
of more than $3.85 billion on the economy in
Washington alone.

ood InsecurityWhen individuals or


households cannot be certain they have the
resources to consume the recommended
quality, variety, or amount of food necessary for
a healthy lifestyle (includes hungry as well as low
food security households)
unger (very low food security)A person or
household is considered hungry when they
miss multiple meals and/or have a regular
pattern of eating too little at the meals they do
have
ow Food SecurityThe US Department of
Agriculture term for individuals or households
that struggle with quality and variety of food
intake due to financial hardship. This group does
not miss meals regularly, but may still suffer from
health problems associated with malnutrition.

S
W

NAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)The federal


food assistance program commonly known as Food Stamps or
Basic Food in Washington

ICA federal program that offers States assistance for


Women, Infants, and Children in need.

*See WFCs ABCs of Emergency Food Provision for a more complete


list of Federal Nutrition Programs

The Washington Food Coalition actively educates and networks with


organizations that strive to alleviate hunger throughout Washington.
We believe No one in Washington State should go hungry

Sources:
Singh, A., Coleman-Jensen, A., & Nord, M. (2013). Household Food Security in the U.S. in 2012. Retrieved from USDA website: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err-economic-research-report/err155.aspx#UqXoMvRDtJd
Childrens Alliance (2014). 2014 Hungry in Washington. Retrieved from http://www.wsahnc.org/hunger-in-washington/#.UqXpuPRDtJd
Map the Meal Gap | Food Insecurity in your County. (2011, August). Retrieved from http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/map-the-meal-gap.aspx#
Food Lifeline (2013). Missing Meals 2013. Retrieved from http://www.foodlifeline.org/hunger/resources/missingmeals.html
Childrens Alliance (2014). 2013 Hungry in Washington. Retrieved from http://www.wsahnc.org/hunger-in-washington/#.UqXpuPRDtJd
Childrens Alliance (2014). Food Expenditures Among Basic Food Recipients Jan 2013. Retrieved from http://www.wsahnc.org/hunger-in-washington/#.UqXsLvRDtJd
Childrens Alliance (2014). 2013 Hungry in Washington. Retrieved from http://www.wsahnc.org/hunger-in-washington/#.UqXpuPRDtJd
Northwest Harvest (2013). Childhood Hunger in Washington State. Retrieved from http://www.northwestharvest.org/fact-sheets
WA DOH (2012). WIC Data by Legislative District - FFY 2011. Retrieved from http://www.doh.wa.gov/portals/1/Documents/Pubs/960-225-2012LegislativeDistrictWICData.pdf
Cooper, D., Shepard, D. S., & Setren, E. (2011). Hunger In America. Retrieved from Center for American Progress website: http://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/issues/2011/10/pdf/hunger_paper.pdf
WSDA (2014). EFAP Closeout Report. Retrieved from http://agr.wa.gov/FoodProg/docs/SFY14_EFAP_Report.pdf

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