Fact Sheets

Hunger

MISSION:
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) seeks to eliminate Hunger by distributing food and grocery products through a network of nonprofit organizations while providing education and increasing community awareness on issues of Hunger.

NEED:

According to the ConAgra Foods Foundation and Feeding America, 24.3 percent of children in Texas are experiencing food insecurity, according to new research released July 1, 2010 by Feeding America. That's nearly 1 in 4 Texans under 18 years of age—or 1.6 million children— that don't have access to the foods that they need to lead active, healthy lives. This means Texas has one of the highest rates of child food insecurity in the nation, virtually tied with Arkansas and Arizona.

• The rate of childhood hunger in Texas has gone up over 2 percentage points since last year's report, which means 163,525 more kids are hungry today. These estimates are expected to rise over the coming years as the full impact of the economic downturn is taken into account.
• According to Feeding America's Hunger Study 2010, The number of NTFB's elderly clients has grown 4 percentage points since 2008 to 13%
• 40% of NTFB clients have to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care (the national statistic is 30%).
• The number of people NTFB's food pantries serve each month would fill the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium 2 1/2 times to capacity.

SERVE:

• Share the message – Tell a friend about the need and the NTFB.
• Share your talents – Volunteer at food distribution sites, events or at the warehouse.
• Sponsor a food drive – Host a traditional or virtual on-line food drive at work, or with your faith, school, or civic group.
• Invite us to speak – To your civic, professional, school or faith group.