National Study On Hunger Underscores Magnitude Of Harvesters’ Task

Hunger In America 2010 

A new national report, Hunger In America 2010, reveals an alarming increase in need for emergency food assistance. In the Kansas City area, the most important resource for that assistance is Harvesters Community Food Network. 

The name Harvesters is well known to most folks in our area. Their familiar food donation barrels and numerous cooperative programs have made the food assistance network a household word. Harvesters is by far the most utilized, and sometimes the only, source of food for area food pantries and kitchens. But behind the image is an impressive large-scale effort to collect, distribute, and utilize contributions to the emergency food program from a wide array of sources. 

Harvesters Super Bowl Week Of Caring

The new study released last week makes a dramatic case for such emergency food relief in our area, and the importance of increasing community support for the regional food bank. Hunger in America 2010 studied 185 food banks like Harvesters, conducted 61,000 face-to-face interviews, and surveyed more than 37,000 individual relief agencies. According to the study, Harvesters provides 73 percent of the food distributed by regional food pantries, 53 percent of food served at soup kitchens, and 35 percent of food provided at emergency shelters.

The Hunger in America survey quantifies the severity of increasing need with some compelling statistics. Covering 26 counties across northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas, the new study reveals that a staggering 295,200 different people have received emergency food assistance each year through agencies served by Harvesters. “As a result of the most severe economic recession since the Great Depression and the highest unemployment rates since World War II, more people than ever are seeking emergency food assistance,” said Karen Haren, Harvesters’ president and CEO. “In 2009, we distributed 36.6 million pounds of food, which is 30 percent more than at any time in our 30-year history.” 

Links to the report’s key findings, as well as the full report in both local and national versions can be found at the Harvesters Hunger In America 2010 web page.

Startling Statistics:

Consider these disturbing study results released by Harvesters last week in the key study findings for Kansas City and the surrounding region:

• 37 percent of all members of households served in 2009 are children (up to 109,224 children overall).

• 45 percent of these children come from single-parent households.

• 39 percent of households have at least one adult who is working. Yet nearly three quarters (73 percent) have incomes at or below poverty level.

• 74 percent of food pantries and 82 percent of kitchens report an increase in need at their facilities since 2005.

• 25 percent of households have at least one member in poor health, thirty-one percent have no health insurance, and fifty-three percent have unpaid medical bills.

The study compared Harvesters food recipients to the U.S. government’s official food security scale. According to the USDA, Missouri ranks sixth nationally in food insecurity, and Kansas, eighth.

• 78 percent of households with children are considered “food insecure” and 34 percent are classified as having “very low food security.” In other words, there are a lot of children out there who would go hungry without the benefit of the Harvesters Network.

• Seniors are also at risk of going hungry, with 76 percent of recipient households with seniors classified as “food insecure”.

Working Families Also At Risk

Hunger threatens the employed as well as unemployed: “When people lose jobs, have a sudden illness or simply need a car repair, it can be devastating to a family,” said Haren.

Kansas City Restaurant Week

Great Meals - With Benefits

The first metro area event of its kind, Kansas City Restaurant Week offers diners an eclectic selection of multi-course fixed price menus at participating area restaurants. At just $15 for lunch and $30 dinner, this is a unique opportunity to sample the finest fare Kansas City has to offer.

 A creation of the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association and the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association, the program benefits the Harvesters food bank, which provides hungry people with over 60,000 meals weekly across a 26 county area surrounding the metro. 10% of the proceeds will be donated to Harvesters. According to Ellen Feldhausen, Harvesters Director of Communications, every dollar donated lets them provide 5 meals through local food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, and more. So while you're enjoying dinner, you're also helping to feed 15 people.

When you look at the list of more than 100 participating area restaurants and check the individual offerings, it's immediately clear that you can enjoy an amazing array of fine meals at quite a fine price. 

Restaurant week runs today through January 31st. Reservations are suggested since venues are filling up fast in response to this marvelous opportunity. The sponsors suggest using the free service provided by  Open Table to make reservations.

Bon appetit!

CANstruction - Where Dinner Meets Design

You shouldn't miss the new CANstruction exhibit benefiting Harvesters at Union Station, now through February 10, where 16 teams of architects, engineers, and contractors compete for national bragging rights by creating fantastic structures - made only from cans of food, and non-perishable food items. Admission to the exhibit is free.

The international competition created by the Society of Design Administration, an affiliate of the American Institute of Architects,.is a global anti-hunger project. Locally the exhibit benefits Harvesters, The Community Food Network. After the exhibit closes, the cans are donated to Harvesters.

According to Ellen Feldhausen, Harvesters' Director of Communications, the 16 structures in this year's exhibit are composed of 63,000 cans. Last year more that 33,000 pounds of food were donated,. the equivalent of 27,000 meals.

The winning entries selected by a panel of judges are pictured below by category. According to Ms. Feldhausen, the winners become eligible to compete in a national competition. She tells us that besides bragging rights, "the teams are very committed to what they're doing. They're excited, it's fun, it's creative, but I think they understand that they are helping to feed hungry people."

There is also a "People's Choice" award. Visitors to the exhibit can vote for their favorites, and Harvesters is asking a $1 donation per vote. You can also go to the Harvesters website and view all 16 exhibits, and vote for your favorite. Your vote is important because every dollar allows Harvesters to provide 5 meals.

Click here to see all 16 entries and vote in the CANstruction People's Choice competition.

Click here to learn how you can support Harvesters through donations of food, money, and time.

Congratulations to the 2010 CANstruction winners!

Click the photos for a larger image.

“Wedge Out Hunger,” by ACI/Boland, Structural Ingenuity award. The pineapple is constructed of cans of black eye peas, corn, pineapple chunks and kraut.

“War(hol) on Hunger,” by BRR Architecture, Best Use of Labels award. Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe is composed of cans of 11 different kinds of tuna and one kind of salmon.

“Garden is Where the Gnome Is,” by Gastinger Walker Harden Architects, Jurors’ Favorite award. The gnome is constructed of cans of tomato sauce, tuna, corn and pork&beans.

“Jump on the POPsled,” by Populous; Honorable Mention. The full scale bobsled is made out of 2,500 cans of sardines.

“Souper Spud,” by Black&Veatch, Best Meal award. This giant Mr. Potato Head is made out of cans of pinto beans, tuna, pineapple and packages of ranch dressing and taco seasoning.

Check back soon for more on local events which support Harvesters. Up next: Restaurant Week.