In order to address the problem of hunger, first we must understand it. To that end, Hunger in America 2010, the largest study of domestic hunger ever conducted, provides an in-depth look at who is in need, how the need is met, and by whom.
Feeding America seeks not only to immediately alleviate hunger through distribution of food and grocery products to people in need, but also to address the problem of hunger in the long-term by increasing awareness among the public, connecting clients seeking emergency food assistance with federal benefits, and advocating for changes to programs and policies that support low-income Americans and ultimately end hunger. The methodology used to collect the data is unlike any other study conducted examining hunger.
This is our fifth extensive study of hunger, which we have conducted quadrennially since 1993. Through more than 61,000 face-to-face client interviews and more than 37,000 surveys of local charitable agencies, Hunger in America 2010 captures detailed information about who is in need of emergency food assistance and their circumstances, which, in turn, helps charitable feeding organizations develop programs that best support hungry Americans. The results also better inform the public policy discourse so that federal nutrition programs can better serve those in need.