Local Summary Report
Food Bank of South Central MI.
February 23, 2006
Food Bank of South Central Michigan
P.O. Box 408
Battle Creek, MI 49016
www.foodbankofscm.org
America’s Second Harvest
35 E. Wacker Dr., #2000
Chicago, IL 60601
www.secondharvest.org
Food Bank Council of MIchigan
501 N. Walnut
Lansing, MI 48933
www.fbcmich.org
Mathematica Policy Research
P.O. Box 2393
Princeton, NJ 08543-2393
www.mathematica-mpr.com
Dear Friends:
Statistics are people with the tears washed off.
We live in a busy world. Incessantly, or as a ritual, we watch the scoreboard, the Dow, the Timex. We put our faith in numbers. We count on numbers to get to the gist of things, to take things to the bottom line, to tell us the truth and nothing but the truth.
And we rely on the facts of research…its objective, sometimes cold empiricism. It is something we can bank on. It is quantifiable and accurate. It cuts through the intangible, subjective, often emotional nature of things. It is what it is. A snapshot is taken, a pulse is read. Here are the numbers. For good or ill, here are the numbers.
The Hunger Study is out again this year. Like clockwork, 156 food banks and food rescue organizations from around the country participated in this landmark project, counting the hungry, detailing the specific who, what, why and when of their condition and challenges. This unprecedented and rigorous research surveys the nation’s charitable feeding infrastructure and etches out a clear analysis of a very heroic network. Faithful, diligent, trained volunteers are sent afield to speak with folks in a line at a pantry, or sitting down for a meal at a soup kitchen or shelter. The volunteers ask questions and neighbors in need, with sublime generosity, give us answers. They tell us their stories and we mark it down.
Some of America’s finest researchers and sophisticated computer software weave their answers into a voluminous book of facts that does, indeed, tell a story. It takes one to sit with the numbers, dig deep, pause and ponder. But the faces of the hungry are there if we would only see them.
Before and after and between the numbers, the percentages, the charts, the tables; faces and stories emerge. Neighbors skipping meals so others can eat. A job is lost. An illness changes everything. Hard-working parents getting help with food so they can pay the rent. On and on, faces and stories emerge.
The Food Bank of South Central Michigan is pleased to join its other America’s Second Harvest partners to be part of Hunger in America 2006. This local Study could not have occurred without the many acknowledged elsewhere in this report. Special thanks to Dan Salerno and Rose Miller here at the Food Bank who took the lead in coordinating this extensive research. We hope the numbers here prove to be more than abstractions. We hope that the science helps lead us to the truth – that our neighbors and friends in need look a lot like us. And that we breathe the same air and our hearts beat as one.
Let’s promise to use this information for the good of the community, to lessen the suffering of fellow citizens whose lives are chronicled throughout these pages.
All to a better heart,
Bob Randels
Executive Director
Food Bank of South Central Michigan
Acknowledgements
A research project as extensive as Hunger in America 2006 involves a lot of behind-the-scenes work. Crucial to the success of this project was the leadership of America’s Second Harvest. At the local level, funders and hands-on volunteers made it happen. With much appreciation, we wish to acknowledge the following:Our Volunteers:
Across our entire eight-county service area a group of 35 dedicated individuals conducted 424 face-to-face interviews at 39 sites. Interviewers were: Ann Marie Bentley, Dennis Berkebile, Adrienne Brown, Barbara Brown, Erika Carona, Karla Darazio, Caroline Gray, Veronica Hannah, Paula Hawkins, John Hennessy, Bev Henry, Rick Hulsey, Sandi Jasper, Valarie Layne, Norma Landstra, Anne Wend Lipsey, Bill Mabin, Joan Miller, Rose Miller, Claudia Murch, Bruce Newhard, Teresa Osborne, Harold Oswald, Jr., Patty Parker, Cheryl Proctor, Bob Randels, Sheri Ritchie, Dan Salerno, Norma Schmidt, Bev & Dave Simpson, Mary Lyn Smith, Dave Steger, Dick Stout, Marti Terpstra, Charles Theodorovich, Sue VanderMeer, Daisy Wagner, Owen Van Winkle, Joe Veich and Carol Wilson. Special thanks to the volunteers from Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes who led the interviewing at the Kalamazoo sites.
Funding:
The following funders showed both their dedication for the communities in which they are located as well as foresight in proactively approaching the extent of hunger and how this complex issue can be addressed: Albion Community Foundation, Altria, Battle Creek Community Foundation, United Way of Greater Battle Creek, Barry Community Foundation, Bronson Health Foundation, Consumers Energy Foundation, Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, Hillsdale County Community Foundation, Hillsdale County United Way, Jackson Community Foundation, United Way of Jackson County, Kalamazoo Community Foundation, United Way of Greater Kalamazoo, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Lenawee County Human Service Council, Miller Foundation, United Way of St. Joseph County, Sturgis Area Community Foundation, Summit Pointe, Three Rivers Area Foundation, and the Weatherwax Foundation.
Member Agencies:
Foodbanking is a grassroots activity involving many types of partnerships. One of the most crucial is the partnership we hold with our member agency network. All of them were asked to complete a member agency survey as a separate part of Hunger in America 2006. 215 (84%) of these agencies did so.
Mathematica selected a sample of 39 agencies located in cities throughout our eight counties, using various statistical procedures, for client interviews at emergency feeding sites. We thank them for their cooperation. They include: Alpha-Omega Ministries/Kalamazoo, Bethel Baptist/Kalamazoo, Branch Area Food Pantry, Branch County Volunteer Services, Bronson Community Pantry, Bronson Park Pantry/Kalamazoo, Country Chapel/Dowling, Crossroads Bread of Life/Marshall, Emergency Care Network/Three Rivers, Emergency Care Network/White Pigeon, First Evangelistic Church/Jackson, Franklin Neighborhood Pantry/Battle Creek, Haven of Rest Ministries/Battle Creek, Housing Resources/Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Church of the Nazarene, Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, Lakeview Baptist Neighborhood Pantry/Battle Creek, Mt. Zion Safe House/Kalamazoo, Northeast Neighborhood Pantry/Battle Creek, Our Lady of Great Oak/Delton, SAFE Place/Battle Creek, Salvation Army/Battle Creek, Salvation Army/Jackson, Son-Shine Ministries/Quincy, St. Ambrose Church/Delton, St. Anthony Family Center/Hillsdale, St. Mary’s of Good Counsel/Adrian, St. Joseph Conference/Adrian, Tri County Labor Pantry/Battle Creek, Trinity Lutheran Church/Hillsdale, Upton Avenue Original Church of God/Battle Creek and the YWCA Shelter/Kalamazoo.
Special thanks to the 424 individuals at the emergency food sites who shared their lives with us during the client interviews, without whom, this Study would not have been possible.
Additional Information:
For the complete local Hunger In America 2006 Study check the Food Bank of South Central Michigan’s website (www.foodbankofscm.org). For the complete national Hunger in America 2006 Study, check America’s Second Harvest website (www.secondharvest.org). For the complete statewide Hunger in America 2006 Study, check the Food Bank Council of Michigan’s website (www.fbcmich.org).
GOALS, OBJECTIVES & SCOPE OF THE PROJECT:
The Hunger in America 2006 study comprises a national survey of America’s Second Harvest emergency food providers and their clients. The study had the following primary objectives:
· To describe the national demographic characteristics, income levels, food stamp utilization, food security status and service needs of low-income clients who access emergency food
assistance from the America’s Second Harvest network at the national level.· To describe the demographic profiles of clients of local agencies and to examine the ability of
local agencies to meet the food security needs of their clients.· To compare data, where possible, between the 2001 and 2006 America’s Second Harvest
research studies, to identify trends in emergency food assistance demands, and to relateobserved trends to welfare policies.· To compare local-level and national-level data on the characteristics of agencies indescribing the charitable response to hunger throughout the nation.
METHODOLOGY:
The Food Bank of South Central Michigan has conducted extensive research in conjunction with America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network. This report presents the results of the project for the Food Bank of South Central Michigan’s service area.
The Food Bank of South Central Michigan’s study involved two major research activities, which were combined into this report, providing statistically valid information for management use and community information:
- A mail survey distributed to all active agencies operating food programs through which the Food Bank of South Central Michigan currently distributes food.
- A confidential client survey that involved personal interviews with 424 clients of emergency food programs.
The Hunger in America 2006 study was designed to provide a comprehensive profile of the extent and nature of hunger and food insecurity as experienced by people who access America’s Second Harvest national network of charitable feeding agencies. Information was collected on clients’ socio-demographic characteristics, including income and employment, benefits from food stamp and other federal or private programs, frequency of visits to emergency feeding sites, and satisfaction with local access to emergency food assistance. Information obtained from provider agencies included size of programs, services provided, sources of food, and adequacy of food supplies.
The Study was conceived and coordinated by the national offices of America’s Second Harvest. Data were collected by more than 160 America’s Second Harvest network members or consortia around the country. America’s Second Harvest research contractor, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR), provided technical advice throughout the Study and implemented the sampling and data analysis activities.
Throughout all stages of the Study, oversight and advice were provided by a Technical Advisory Group convened by America’s Second Harvest. John Cook of Boston Medical Center Department of Pediatrics was the chair and Beth Osborne Daponte of Yale University was co-chair of
the Group. Other members were Steve Carlson of the Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kirk Johnson, of the Heritage Foundation, Lynn Parker of the Food Research and Action Center, Janet Poppendieck of Hunter College, Martha Raske of the University of Southern Indiana, Ken Rice of Leo J. Shapiro & Associates, Rob Santos of NuStats, and Tommy Wright of the U.S. Census Bureau.
OVERVIEW OF THE SECOND HARVEST NETWORK
For clarity, the terms used in this report are defined as follows:
Food Bank. A food bank is a charitable organization that solicits, receives, inventories, stores, and distributes donated food and grocery products to charitable agencies that directly serve needy clients. These agencies include churches and qualifying nonprofit (Internal Revenue Service Code 501-c-3) charitable organizations.
Subsidiary Distribution Organization (SDO). SDOs, smaller food banks or larger agencies allied with affiliated food banks, are private, nonprofit, charitable organizations providing important community services. Although some are agencies, all SDOs distribute part of their food to other charities for direct distribution to clients.
Agencies and Food Programs. America’s Second Harvest network members distribute food to qualifying charitable agencies, most of which provide food directly to needy clients through food programs. Some agencies operate single-type and single-site food programs, while others operate food programs at multiple sites and sometimes operate several types of food programs.
For this research, there are two general categories of food programs that America’s Second Harvest network members serve: emergency and non-emergency.
Emergency food programs include food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. Their clients typically need short-term or emergency assistance.
Emergency Food Pantries, also called "Food Shelves," distribute non-prepared foods and
other grocery products to needy clients, who then prepare and use these items where they live. Food is distributed on a short-term or emergency basis until clients are able to meet their food needs. An agency that picks up boxed food from the food bank to distribute to its clients was included as a food pantry. The Study excluded from this category any agency that does not directly distribute food to clients or distributes bulk food only on a basis other than emergency need (such as U.S.D.A. commodities to all people over age 60). On the other hand, a food bank distributing food directly to clients, including clients referred from another agency, qualified as a food pantry.Emergency Soup Kitchens provide prepared meals served at the kitchen to needy clients
who do not reside on the premises. This category includes "Kids Café" providers.Emergency Shelters provide shelter and serve one or more meals a day on a short-term basis
to low-income clients in need. Shelter may be a primary or secondary purpose of the service. Examples include homeless shelters, such as those for battered women. The Study did not categorize as shelters residential programs that provide services to the same clients for an extended period. Other excluded programs are mental health/retardation group homes and juvenile probation homes.Non-emergency organizations refer to any programs that have a primary purpose other than emergency food distribution but also distribute food. Examples include day care programs, senior congregate-feeding programs and summer camps.
Highlights of Findings: Local Hunger In America 2006
MAJOR FINDINGS:
Among the most important findings is that the number of hungry Americans is increasing. Nationally more than 25 million individuals are served annually by the America’s Second Harvest network. Locally, the Food Bank of South Central Michigan serves an estimated 92,018 individuals a year.
Increasingly, those in need are having to face difficult choices. In fact, nationally 40% of the adults participating in the Hunger in America 2006 study have to choose between purchasing food or obtaining other basic necessities. Locally, 43% have to choose between getting groceries or paying for utilities/heat. 41% have to choose between paying for food or paying the rent/mortgage.
The importance of faith-based volunteer efforts to alleviate hunger is of major significance. Nationally, 70% of all emergency food programs are run by such organizations. Locally, more than half (57%) have this connection.
How many (unduplicated) people does the Food Bank of SCM serve each year?
How extensive is the Food Bank of SCM’s network?
Who makes up of households served by the Food Bank of SCM?
- 57% of all adult clients are female, 43% are male
- 39% of all clients served by FBSCM are 18 or younger
- 10% of households have members 65 or older
- 62% of all adult clients are white, 26% are African-American
- Among households with children younger than 18, 49% are single-parent headed
- 32% of all clients are between the ages of 30-49
- 22% of all adult clients are married; 34% are married or living as married
- 99% of all adult clients are U.S. citizens
- 51% of all adult clients live in suburban/rural settings
What about the income and education level of households served by the Food Bank of SCM?
What about the essentials for living (home, phone and car)?
- 18% have no working telephone
- 33% have no car
- 16% of adult clients said that they are homeless (living in a shelter or mission)
How about food insecurity and meals missed?
- 81% of households with children are food insecure
- 77% of all households are food insecure
(According to the USDA, food security is: Access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food security includes, at a minimum, 1) the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, 2) an assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways (e.g. without resorting to emergency food supplies, scavenging, stealing or other coping strategies).
Food insecurity is: Limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways).
What sort of tough choices do households served have to face?
What about food stamps and public assistance?
- 50% of all households receive food stamps
- 78% of adult clients say the food stamps last for three weeks or less
- On average food stamps last for 2.7 weeks
- 50% of all households receive food stamps
- 56% of adult respondents not currently receiving food stamps said they believe they are not receiving them because they feel they are ineligible
- 74% of adult respondents said they have not received welfare or TANF over the past two years
How healthy are the households served by the Food Bank of SCM?
AGENCY INFORMATION:
How do clients feel about Food Bank of SCM agencies?
What sort of agencies comprise the Food Bank of SCM network, and who do they serve?
Have the Food Bank’s member agencies noticed an increase in need
? What about financial challenges among member agencies?How important is the Food Bank to its member agency network?
How Important Are Volunteers To The Food Bank Agencies?
- 77% of the pantries, 48% of the soup kitchens and 10% of the shelters had no paid staff in their
workforce during the week prior to the Hunger in America 2006 study.
- Among the 361 programs (pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other) operated by Food Bank member agencies the week previous to the Hunger in America 2006 study, there was an average of 1,065 volunteers, representing a value of $8,413 (at an average wage of $7.90). For a year’s time this would be a total volunteer value of $437,502.
- source: Hunger in America, 2006, Local Report Prepared for Food Bank of South Central Michigan.
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., Princeton, N.J.
The Food Bank of South Central Michigan is a United Way program delivery partner. It is a member of America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network, and the Food Bank Council of Michigan.
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