Maine Hunger Statistics
More than 40% of Maine kids under the age of 12 show some evidence of hunger
19,375 Maine children are hungry.
An additional 64,087 children are at risk of hunger.
10% of Maine households, representing 141,000 people, experience food insecurity.
Hunger and the risk of hunger are widespread among Maine's low-income families with children.
The likelihood of experiencing hunger or the risk of hunger is directly related to income.
Children living in households which experienced hunger or the risk of hunger are more likely to experience health or school-related problems.
Adults are even more likely to experience hunger in low income homes. Adults in four out of five households surveyed indicated that they sacrificed for their children by eating less, skipping meals entirely, or by eating less nutritional food.
Several groups are found to be at greater risk of hunger in Maine; children, adults in low income families, disabled persons, persons with special needs, the elderly, those living in rural regions and the inner cities of Maine's largest urban places.
One in three jobs in Maine does not pay enough to cover the basic needs of a family of three. Many others are seasonal, less than full time, or offer only partial benefits.
Several factors contribute to hunger in Maine; including income growth that is outpaced by cost of living; high level of underemployment; widening gap between rich and poor; illiteracy; and lack of consumer information on nutrition.
Hunger in America!
Twelve years ago, Good Shepherd Food-Bank began its partnership with America's Second Harvest (A2H), the Nation's Food Bank Network. Based in Chicago. A2H Network is the country's largest domestic hunger relief organization serving more than 200 member food banks in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico and is a significant source of much needed food for Maine, sending truckloads each month from various national food donors.
In November of 2001 America's Second Harvest released its third and most comprehensive study of hunger in the United States: "Hunger in America 2001". By surveying nearly 24,000 charitable hunger-relief organizations and conducting face to face interviews with more than 32,000 emergency food recipients across the country, this study provides an accurate picture of hunger in America. The following are some key findings of the study:
America's Second Harvest's network of food banks provide emergency hunger-relief services to an estimated 23.3 million people (roughly 9% of all Americans).
Of emergency food recipients, 62.8% have attained high school diplomas or above.
87.7% of pantries, 77.3% of kitchens, and 74.8% of shelters surveyed reported that the elimination of their local food bank would have either a significant or devastating impact on their program.
38.9% of surveyed households have one or more adults currently employed.
38.6% of surveyed households have at least one member under the age of 18 years; of which 8.6% have one or more children age 0 to 5 years.
10.8% of the households have at least one member age 65 years or older.
14.9% of the clients live in rural areas.
Among the clients who have their own housing, 23.4% are homeowners.
Among all client households served, 44.7% reported having had to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities at least once during the previous 12 months, 35.7% said they had to choose between paying for food and paying for rent or mortgage.
16.2% of all clients are in poor health and 18.4% of clients indicated that someone else in their household was in poor health.
29.7% of all client households have been forced to choose between paying for food and medicine in the past 12 months.
63.9% of clients or anyone in their household have applied for and 29.8% are currently receiving food stamps.
70.6% of households report that they are food insecure; of which 36.7 report that they are food insecure with hunger.
These statistics are only part of the picture.
The number of people homeless each night, the hundreds that show up at soup kitchens each day, the thousands that go to a food pantry weekly or monthly, the thousands of meals served to the elderly, sick or disabled meals on wheels programs, all attest to the extent of hunger in Maine and to the depth of suffering that would exist were it not for the generosity and dedication of so many. Even more devastating is the plight of those who go without in silence - elderly who refuse help because of pride, or children who go through the school day hungry rather than accept a free lunch and reveal their economic situations to classmates, or breadwinners who feel they have failed their families because they cannot earn enough to provide adequately.
