In Families:

• In the last two years, the number of food shelf visits increased 26%
• People who use food shelves average six visits a year. However, nearly 40% use a food shelf only once or twice a year.
• 85% of families using food shelves fall below the federal poverty guidelines.

In Children:

• One-half of the people served at food shelves are children.
• 11% of the children served by our state’s food shelves are forced to skip meals because there is not enough food in the home. 43% of their parents skip meals too.
• Children who suffer from hunger are more likely to be absent from school and have trouble concentrating in classes.

In Elders:

• 20% of people visiting food shelves are seniors.
• Hunger can cause severe health problems in older people, increasing the likelihood of diseases such as stroke, exacerbating existing health conditions such as diabetes, making medications less effective, and altering brain chemistry, causing high rates of isolation and depression. Malnutrition accounts for a disproportionate percentage of senior health care costs.

Among the working poor:

• The working poor are the fastest-growing group of food shelf clients.
• 43% of households using food shelves report that paid employment is the family’s major source of income.
• In the Twin Cities suburbs the number of working poor approaches 60% of the families served.