The Public Needs to Know – Revised Version
Holly A. Easton
Strayer University, Florence Campus
August 16, 2012

It is common knowledge that the recent economic downturn and high unemployment levels have put serious pressure on the ability of many families to provide adequate nutrition for themselves. There has been a definite uptick in the dependence on Food stamps and other government resources to help make ends meet. Unfortunately, that is not always enough. The fight against hunger is not just about being hungry. Lack of proper nutrition is a hindrance to our children. Our children growing up hungry can potentially affect their overall health, education, and adult economic stability.
The direct economic impact of hunger and food insecurity in America resulted in Federal expenditures for food assistance programs totaling approximately $103.3 billion in fiscal year 2011. This was an 8 percent increase from the year before. This was also the eleventh consecutive year that food assistance expenses increased and the fifth where they exceeded previous historical record. (Oliveira, 2012) The following graph shows the drastic monetary increase in billions for the SNAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from 1970 to 2011.

The indirect economic impact of hunger and food insecurity in America is shown in many different ways. One very important example is the rising costs of special education. Food insecurity has been shown to have a direct impact on a child’s physical and mental development, school readiness, and academic performance. In 2006 the federal funds for Special Education were $11.46 billion and part of that was directly linked to food insecurity and hunger. (Cook, 2009)
In 1989 the Life Sciences Research Office founded the basis for standardized definitions used in estimating food security in the United States. Food Security according to LSRO means: Access to enough food for an active, healthy life. It includes at a minimum: the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, and an assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways (e.g., without resorting to emergency food supplies, scavenging, stealing, or other coping strategies). Food insecurity exists whenever the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways is limited or uncertain. (Committee on National Statistics, 2006)
According to www.feedingamerica.org, 1 in 6 of our nation’s children lives in a food insecure household. If we go by the definition provided by the LSRO, this means that they do not know when or where they will find their next meal. It is a known fact that good nutrition is the basis for good health. The food pyramid and the basic food groups have been taught to all of us from elementary school on. What happens to our bodies when we don’t receive this basic fundamental nutrition? The potential consequences could be devastating.
There are many studies that show that food insecurity is associated with health problems for children that can be an obstacle in their ability to function in daily activities. These children are at higher risk for poor health and hospitalization. (Cook & al, 2006). In a study conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of more than 11,000 children it was shown that children in food insufficient households were more likely to have poor/fair general health status, and were more likely to report stomach aches, headaches, and colds, after adjusting for poverty, past health risk, and other family and environmental characteristics. (Casey & al, 2005) According to the Freestore Foodbank’s website, www.fsfbmedia.org, food insufficiency and hunger have also been associated with mental health problems and academic difficulties among school-aged children. The following graph shows the short term and long term medical effects of child food insecurity in our country.

In the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Area, the FreeStore Foodbank is an organization that aspires to put an end to childhood food insecurities. The FreeStore Foodbank currently serves more than 300,000 people annually in 20 different counties across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana with the help of a web of food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and community centers. They collect, store, and distribute approximately 18 million pounds of donated food and groceries annually. (The Freestore Foodbank, 2012) To help combat childhood food insecurities, they have also put into place several different programs aimed towards providing children with enough food to eat when they do not have access to school programs. These include The Power Pack Program, The Kids Café, and the Summer Feeding Program.
One of the FreeStore FoodBank’s Programs to help combat child food insecurity is The Power Pack Program. The Power Pack Program makes sure that qualified children receive a “Power Pack” each Friday afternoon. These Power Packs contain nutritious food for children to take home on the weekends so that they have enough to eat and sustain them when they are away from school. The Power Packs contain approximately 9-12 non-perishable food items that are chosen based on nutritional value and the ease of preparation by the child. Some items that can be included in one of these Power Packs are: cereal, red beans and rice, pudding, and canned fruit. School staff members recommend children for this program based on need. During the 2012 fiscal year, the Freestore Foodbank distributed 84,081 Power Packs to 55 different sites. 2,320 children received these packs each week. The FreeStore Foodbank relies on teachers and school staff who are aware of the children and their specific situations to qualify them for this program. The children who are most in need of food are put at the top of the priority list. (The Freestore Foodbank, 2012)
Another program offered to food insecure children is The Kids Café. The Kids Café program is a national program of Feeding America. This program began in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1996. The Kids Café program makes sure that children who might go without meals after school get a free hot meal. The children also get after school tutoring for help with school work, adult mentoring, and the ability to take part in recreational activities. In October of 2010, there were 19 Kids Café sites scattered throughout the Tri-State area, located in various schools throughout the region. You can find a list of these locations on the Freestore Foodbank’s website at www.fsfbmedia.org Per month, the Kids Café provides over 9600 hot meals to children in need. Any child that is eligible for free or reduced lunches through the school system is eligible to take part in this program.(The Freestore Foodbank, 2012)
The third program that the FreeStore Foodbank offers for children is The Summer Feeding Program. The Summer Feeding Program was developed to serve the children in need in the community during the summer months when school meals are not an option. Children ages 1-18 can receive nutritious lunches prepared by Cincinnati Cooks students. There are eight locations that these lunches are available at this summer, between June 11,2012 and August 10, 2012. Any child can receive these lunches, regardless of income eligibility.(The Freestore Foodbank, 2012)
• Deer Park Public Library: 3970 E. Galbraith Rd. Cincinnati OH 45236, M-F 12:00-12:30pm
• Elmwood Place Public Library: 6120 Vine St. Cincinnati OH 45216, M-F 1:00-1:30pm
• Forest Park Public Library: 655 Waycross Rd. Cincinnati OH 45240, M-F 12:00-12:30pm
• Groesbeck Public Library: 2994 W. Galbraith Rd. Cincinnati OH 45239 M-F 12:00-12:30pm
• North Central Public Library: 11109 Hamilton Ave. Cincinnati OH 45231 M-F 12:00-12:30pm
• Reading Public Library: 9001 Reading Rd. Cincinnati OH 45215 M-F 12:00-1:00pm
• Sharonville Public Library: 10980 Thornview Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45241 M-F 12:00-12:30pm
• Skyline Community Center: 8500 Pippin Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45251 M-F 12:00-1:00pm

The Freestore Foodbank is located at 112 E. Liberty St. Cincinnati, OH 45202. They acquire their food from national and local food manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, brokers and food distributers who donate these supplies. This includes packaged, canned, perishable, and non-perishable food that meets all regulated food safety and nutrition standards. Canned food drives by the community and fresh produce and prepared foods donated by local grocery retailers supplement the program as well.

If the economic and medical impact of food insecure households is statistically negative, then it stands to reason that the reversal of food insecurity should show positive. Children who are benefiting from proper nutrition will show better health and mental stability. If these same children do not have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, they can focus their energies on school studies and physical activities. The obvious expected outcome of this would be a better overall education. This would mean higher graduation levels, college access, and a higher income expectation for these children in their adult life.