New Report Charts Growth of Childhood Hunger to Suburbs; Alexandria Officials Joined Virginia Fair Share Education Fund Thursday Discuss Findings
Report shows food insecurity growing more rapidly in suburban neighborhoods than in rural or urban city areas!
CONTACT: Nick Arent (202) 543-3332 Ext. 348
Alexandria – Fair Share Education Fund (FSEF) released Childhood Hunger in America’s Suburbs, a new report detailing the changing geography of childhood hunger at a time of growing suburban poverty, at a 9 a.m. news conference on Thursday. FSEF was joined by Alexandria Mayor William Euille, Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg, and Ken Naser (Executive Director of ALIVE!) to discuss the report (downloadable here).
“Childhood hunger has changed,” said Nick Arent, Virginia organizer for Fair Share Education Fund. “Hunger is no longer strictly an urban and rural phenomenon. It affects nearly every American community, including the suburbs of Northern Virginia. This includes communities that might otherwise think child hunger is a problem that happens ‘somewhere else.’ Our perceptions have to change -- and with our perceptions, our policies.”
Mayor Euille added, “Hunger in America is a tragedy, and despite the so –called economic recovery, many children go to bed on empty stomachs and this must end. We all can do our part by donating to the various food banks, making certain that ‘no one is left behind’.” He also affirmed his belief that, “Congress needs to restore full funding to the Food Stamp Program, which was cut under the 2014 Farm Bill.”
As Vice Mayor Silberberg stated, "Nearly 60% of the children in our Alexandria school system receive the free or reduced-price lunch program. This often means that their parent or parents are also experiencing food insecurity. These children are food insecure day in and day out and especially when there is a snow day, a weekend, and over the summer gap. We know that many elderly in our city are also food insecure and making painful choices between food and medicine because they cannot afford to buy both. Tragically, they often cannot take their meds without food.”
Having worked directly with low income families, Ken Naser pointed out that "hunger doesn't take a summer vacation. When students aren't in school, many of them face the reality of having to go without adequate meals. For 45 years, ALIVE! has been helping people get much needed groceries for their families, currently distributing 30,000 to 40,000 pounds every month."
Note to media: Fair Share Education Fund has pictures of Thursday’s event. To follow up, please contact Nick at nick@fairshareonline.org or call (202) 543-3332 Ext. 348.
Virginia Fair Share Education Fund is a grassroots field and advocacy group, working to make sure everyone gets, pays, and does their fair share; and plays by the same rules. Find out more at http://www.fairshareonline.org/edfund
