CHILDREN AND CHILDHOOD HUNGER
Children have a higher chance of experiencing hunger in our state. The latest Map the Meal Gap report shows that 55 million meals are missing from the tables of our fellow New Mexicans, and one in four are children. Without adequate access to a consistent source of food, hunger leaves children facing a multitude of short-term and long-term issues which can have devastating effects on future generations.
Data shows that children facing hunger and poverty are likely to experience chronic health conditions such as:
- Asthma
- Anemia
- Obesity
- Digestive problems
- Oral health issues
- Hyperactivity
- Higher rates of hospitalization.
Children experiencing hunger also have social issues including:
- learning difficulties
- delayed development
- attachment issues
- other social issues that may cause them to be labeled or bullied
Hunger research shows that hungry children also live in struggling families:
- Nearly 90% of hungry households earn less than $20,000 a year.
- More than half of the hungry households we serve have someone employed, but often in low paying jobs that do not allow them to make ends meet.
- Grandparents raising grandchildren have doubled in the past 40 years leaving two vulnerable populations experiencing hunger together.
- 75% of hungry households report they knowingly purchase inexpensive, unhealthy food as the most common way to have at least some food to eat.
We believe in providing the highest quality food possible to struggling children and families. It is one reason we have focused on bringing as much produce into our distribution center to provide to our statewide hunger network. In fact, about one-third of the food we distribute annually includes nutritious food items like fresh fruits and vegetables.
At Roadrunner® Food Bank, we believe child hunger is family hunger. To address childhood hunger, we have created several programs and initiatives to bring food to both children and families in need.
