Hunger in Rhode Island
Rhode Islanders are experiencing one of the worst economic periods in the state’s history. Consider the following facts:
- Last fiscal year, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank distributed 9.9 million pounds of food .
- Each month, more than 63,000 Rhode Islanders seek food assistance through the Food Bank's network of emergency food programs.
- 15.4% of Rhode Island households are food insecure, and 5.5% of Rhode Island households experience severe food insecurity (hunger).
- In Rhode Island, 41% of client households have such limited income that they must choose between paying for food and paying their rent, while 43% of clients choose between paying for food and paying for utilities.
- 144,000 Rhode Islanders (13.7%) are living in poverty.
- One in three persons served by the Food Bank's network of food pantries and meal sites is a child under the age of 18.
- 21.9% of Rhode Island's children are living in poverty.
- 6% of those served by the Food Bank are over the age of 65.
Hunger in the United States
- 14.5% (17.6 million households) are food insecure.
- 5.7% (7 million households) have severe food insecurity (hunger).
To download a PDF of the Food Bank's 2014 Facts & Figures, click here