Hunger Facts

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In lower Fairfield County the living wage needed to modestly support a family consisting of an adult, an infant, a preschooler, and a teenager is $32 per hour. Often, the working poor earn only Connecticut's minimum wage per hour: $7.65 in 2008, $8.00 in 2009, and $9.00 in 2010. At the 2008 rate of pay, they are required to work 167 hours per week to afford a modest one bedroom apartment. With only 168 hours in a week, they would have to work practically every day and night, seven days a week. Faced with this delimma, many must choose between eating properly and paying the rent. Therefore, they are forced to obtain food via shelters, soup kitchens, and food pantries.
In Connecticut, one out of every five children is hungry or at risk of hunger. School holidays and vacations are an additional strain, as these children do not receive the Federal Free Breakfast and Lunch while not in school.
In lower Fairfield County, the need for emergency food has doubled in volume in just the past two years.
The Food Bank distributes about 1,000,000 pounds of food per year.

Last Updated (Wednesday, 17 September 2008 13:43)