Hunger Awareness

Many people are unaware of the people in our own communities who suffer from hunger or food insecurity. This is especially a problem for the young and elderly people in our communities. CYFERnet has many resources to increase awareness of food insecurity and to help those who struggle with this problem.

Research Information

Food Research and Action Center
Description: This Web site provides links to many articles and much information pertaining to childhood hunger, food stamps, food assistance, USDA food programs, and much more.

Identifying and Addressing the Needs of Children in Grandparent Care
Author: Ehrle, Jennifer; Cynthia Andrews Scarcella; Rob Geen
Description: Data from the 1999 National Survey of America's Families indicates that 58 percent of children in relative care live with a grandparent. These children tend to be younger and live with older caregivers who have less formal education than children in the care of other relatives. Children in grandparent care are more likely to live in poverty and with a caregiver in poor health, but both groups experience similarly high levels of housing problems, food insecurity, and poor caregiver mental health. Grandparents are as likely as other relatives to care for children with health, behavioral or emotional, or school problems. While all are eligible, only 29 percent of children living with grandparents receive foster care or child-only TANF payments.

Consequences of Hunger and Food Insecurity for Children: Evidence from Recent Scientific Studies (pdf)
Publisher: Center on Hunger and Poverty (June 2002)
Description: This 16-page report describes the many negative outcomes that have been associated with food insecurity and hunger among children in the United States.

Household Food Security in the United States, 1998
Author: Cohen, Barbara; James Parry; Kenneth Yang
Publisher: USDA, Economic Research Service (June 2002)
Description: An extensive statistical research report on the food security in the US. It breaks down findings by household type and ethnicity. It also discusses methodological issues in collecting data.

Hunger: Its impact on Children’s Health and Mental Health
Author: Linda, Weinreb; Cheryl Wehler; Jennifer Perloff; Richard Scott
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics, PEDIATRICS, Vol. 110 No. 4 (October 2002)
Description: This observational study involving 408 children examines child hunger and its impact on physical and mental health. Using standardized tools comprehensive demographic, psychosocial and health data were collected from homeless and low-income housed mothers and their children in Worcester, MA

Characterstics of Food Stamp Households: Fiscal Year 2001 (pdf)
Author: Tuttle, Chrisitina
Publisher: USDA (July 2002)
Description: This report profiles characteristics of food stamp recipients based on 2001 data. It includes composition of households, benefits and income. It contains national and state specific data.

Hunger relief programs

How to Organize a Community Food Drive
Author: Franck, Louise
Publisher: University of Maine Cooperative Extension (1996)
Description: A fact sheet that illustrates the ways in which one can organize a food drive in the community.

Food for your Community: Gleaning and Sharing
Author: Hundhammer, Marjorie
Publisher: University of Richmond (2000)
Description: A fact sheet describing steps in setting up a crop gleaning hunger relief project.

Food Assistance Programs
Publisher: Food and Nutrition Service
Description: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), formerly known as the Food and Consumer Service, administers the nutrition assistance programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The mission of FNS is to provide children and needy families better access to food and a more healthful diet through its food assistance programs and comprehensive nutrition education efforts.

Food Assistance
Publisher: North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Services (1997)
Description: Chapter 13 in a manual that addresses community strategies to help families become self-sufficient. This chapter discusses issues associated with obtaining healthy food for low income families.

Hunger awareness and policy resources

Poverty Tour
Publisher: Poverty USA
Description: A video clip that takes viewers through a poverty simulation. It includes information about budgeting for poverty, including housing, transportation, food, and child care.

Left, Right, or Ahead: Creating a New Domestic Policy Framework
Author: Brown, J.
Description: This keynote address was presented by Dr. J. Larry Brown at CYFAR 2002. It discusses poverty and presents a new domestic policy framework based on asset-building policy.

Reforming Welfare: What does it mean for Rural Areas
Author: Whitener, Leslie; G. J. Duncan; B. A. Weber
Publisher: Economic Research Service (June 2002)
Description: Research summary comparing the effects of the 1996 PRWORA welfare reforms on rural versus urban populations. Argues that there are work support limitations in rural areas that have resulted in reduced success with the new system. (6 p.)