Latinos less likely than other groups to seek emergency food assistance.

According to Hunger in America 2006, the largest, most-comprehensive study ever conducted on domestic hunger, more than 25 million Americans—including nearly 5 million Latinos, nearly 10 million Caucasians and nearly 10 million African Americans—receive emergency food assistance from America’s Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network each year. Although Latinos report a high level of food insecurity (over 22 percent), a large number of low-income working Latinos living in poverty do not seek emergency food assistance. The study was commissioned by America’s Second Harvest Network —The Nation’s Food Bank Network of charitable agencies and sponsored by Altria.

“It is disheartening that more people are seeking help from our Network each year,” said Robert Forney, President and CEO of America’s Second Harvest. “We must continue expanding our programs to ensure that anyone who needs food has access to it.”

“This report confirms that Latinos are not seeking food assistance even though there is a clear need given their lack of economic resources. It is extremely disturbing that many Hispanic families are going hungry at a time when they face high rates of poverty,” said Jennifer Ng’andu, Health Policy Analyst of National Council of La Raza.

According to the U.S. Census 2001 Poverty Report, the poverty rate for Latinos is 21.9 percent versus 12 percent for the total population and 8 percent for whites. About 70 percent of the clients seeking emergency food assistance are living below the federal poverty line, and nearly 40 percent have at least one adult working in their household. Seventy percent of clients are living in food insecure households—not knowing where they will find their next meal—and 33 percent of the clients reported experiencing hunger.

Many low-income Latino families going without emergency food assistance make difficult choices every day between spending food and buying everyday necessities. More than 40 percent of all the clients in the America’s Second Harvest Network report having to choose between paying for utilities or heating fuel and food; 35 percent had to choose between paying for rent or a mortgage and food; 32 percent report having to choose between paying for medical bills and food.

Volunteers and faith-based organizations are the lifeline of America’s emergency food distribution system. More than 65 percent of food pantries and 40 percent of soup kitchens rely entirely on volunteers and have no paid staff. As many as 90 percent of food pantries, 86 percent of soup kitchens and 71 percent of shelters in the America’s Second Harvest Network use volunteers. Additionally, nearly 75 percent of pantries, 65 percent of soup kitchens, and 45 percent of emergency shelters are run by faith-based agencies affiliated with churches, mosques, synagogues and other religious organizations.

For more information at http://www.hungerinamerica.org