What is Food Insecurity?
- Food insecurity is the condition of not having regular access to enough nutritious food for a healthy life.
Food Insecurity in Children:
- Hungry children are sick more often, more likely to suffer growth impairment and incur developmental impairments that limit their physical, intellectual and emotional development.
- Hungry children perform more poorly in school and have lower academic achievement.
- Hungry children have more social and behavioral problems, as well as less energy for complex social interactions and cannot adapt to stresses as easily.
Studies Show:
- One third of students have shown better grades as a result of backpack programs.
- About two thirds of participating students appear less worried about food and healthier.
- Over 50% of students demonstrate high self-esteem after receiving food from a backpack program.
- About 50% of students experience a more trusting relationship with school personnel.
- Backpack programs serve all the students in the classroom, not just the students receiving food assistance by decreasing behavior problems and improving the classroom environment.
Every Meal Surveys Show:
Every year, we ask schools to share their feedback to help us understand the difference our Weekend Meal Program makes for students and their families. For the 2024–2025 school year, school staff reported impact in the following areas:
- Relationships: 97% of school staff indicated that our Program helped them form connection with families, while 96% indicated that it attributed to creating relationships with school staff
- Performance: 95% of school staff reported impact in both attention in class on Monday and academic performance, and 93% reported impact in attendance
- Well-being: Over 91% of school staff also indicated impact in student’s well-being including self-esteem (95%) and behavior (91%)
Information provided by:
Yana V. Rodgers & Marika Milewska (2007) FOOD ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, Journal of Children and Poverty, 13:1, 75-95
Cook, John & Jeng, Karen. (2009) Child Food Insecurity: The Economic Impact on our Nation. Feeding America.