DN! Quarter of All US Children Went Hungry Last Year

Govt Report: Quarter of All US Children Went Hungry Last Year

New government data shows nearly 50 million Americans—including a quarter of all children—struggled to get enough to eat last year. The Department of Agriculture found that nearly 17 million children lived in households in which food at times was scarce last year, four million children more than the year before. The government data has startled even anti-poverty advocates. Vicki Escarra, president of Feeding America, said, "This is unthinkable. Its like we are living in a Third World country. The total number of Americans going hungry is likely even higher. The report is based on 2008 data when the unemployment rate maxed out at 7.2 percent. Since then the unemployment rate has jumped to over ten percent. David Davenport runs the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. David Davenport: I anticipate that as the months go on, the next four to six months, well continue to break distribution records, well continue to have to expand programs like the mobile pantry, and well continue to have to do more and to do it with less resources.

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