Hunger Facts

It is estimated that in Fairfield County, a family of four (two adults and two children) needs an annual salary of atleast $126,000 to avoid being “food insecure” i.e. lacking reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. Often, the working poor earn only Connecticut’s minimum wage, which currently is only $16.35 per hour. At the current minimum wage rate, both adults would have to work 8 hours a day, 7 days a week for the entire year, just to earn $95,222. This family cannot make ends meet despite both adults working 8 hour days. Faced with this dilemma, many must choose between eating nutritiously or paying the rent. Therefore, they are forced to obtain food via food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters that are member agencies of The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County.