Some 70,000 Sonoma County residents seek hunger relief every month from the Redwood Empire Food Bank, an increase of about 20,000 people over two years.
And an ever-larger portion are without work and more people are cramming into households, according to an annual food bank survey.
"There are more people in households relying on fewer incomes," said David Goodman, executive director of the food bank. "We know that people are either losing jobs, are under-employed or not capable of finding work, period."
Summer Lunch Program
Samantha Rodriguez, 12, right, helps Melina Mendoza, 4, with her lunch at the Knox Presbyterian Church for the summer lunch program, Wednesday, July 21, 2010.
Vanessa Nunez, 3, left and Samantha Nunez, 8, right, eat lunch at the Knox Presbyterian Church for the summer lunch program, Wednesday, July 21, 2010.
Toni Bastoni, from left, and Frank Bastoni, show Melanie Rodriguez, 4, and Samantha Rodriguez, 12 what they were serving for lunch at Knox Presbyterian Church during the summer lunch program, Wednesday, July 21, 2010.
Kids line up for lunch that was served at Knox Presbyterian Church during the summer lunch program for kids up to the age of 18.
Rosio Nunez. from left to right, feeds Emir Nunez, 1, while Vanessa Nunez, 3, Samantha Nunez, 8, Sergio Nunez, 7, and Lizbeth Nunez, 1, eat lunch at the Knox Presbyterian Church for the summer lunch program, Wednesday, July 21, 2010.
Dayanna Rodriguez, 15, prepares lunches at the Knox Presbyterian Church for the summer lunch program, Wednesday, July 21, 2010.
Rosio Nunez. from left to right, feeds Emir Nunez, 1, while Vanessa Nunez, 3, Samantha Nunez, 8, Sergio Nunez, 7, and Lizbeth Nunez, 1, eat lunch at the Knox Presbyterian Church for the summer lunch program, Wednesday, July 21, 2010.
The number of county residents needing help to feed themselves and their families rose 20 percent in 2008, and another 20 percent in 2009 when 70,000-a-month sought aid. That demand has continued through this year, according to the agency.
At a food bank pantry hosted every Thursday by Knox Presbyterian and Resurrection Church in west Santa Rosa, the number of people who line up from 4 to 5 p.m. for a grocery bag of food has grown dramatically.
"Before, the lines weren't so long," said Angelica Rodriguez of Santa Rosa. Now, "you have to get here early, because if you arrive after 5 the doors are closed; they run out of food."
Rodriguez, her three children and a cousin visited a summer lunch program Wednesday at the church, one of many hunger initiatives the food bank spearheads with more than 146 local groups. The daily program fills the gap left by the absence of a school lunch program during the summer.
Rodriguez said her husband, a roofer, has been working far fewer hours than he did two years ago. He mostly does repair work and is home by early afternoon, she said.
"From January to May, he had no work at all," she said, adding that it was the first time in the 16 years he's been working as a roofer that he went that long without work.
The food bank's survey, titled Hunger in Sonoma County 2010, was conducted during the first four months of 2009, part of larger study that involved 185 food banks across the country. Staff and volunteers from the local food bank interviewed 357 food recipients at food pantries, emergency kitchens and shelters.
(page 2 of 3)
More than a quarter of food bank households reported Social Security payments as their primary source of income.
The report also found that only 34.6 percent of adults in a household are currently working.
Goodman said that among the study's most troubling findings was that the median monthly income for families who receive assistance from the food bank is $930, less than one fifth the county's median monthly income of $5,189.
"That one number alone pretty much tells the whole story," he said.
Other findings for food bank recipients include:
<BL@199,12,11,10>Sixty-one percent live at or below the federal poverty line, which is $903 a month for one person, $1,214 for two people, and $1,838 for a family of four.
<BL@199,12,11,10>About a third of recipients had to choose between buying food or paying for utilities, rent, medicine or medical care.
<BL@199,12,11,10>Twenty-one percent had a hard time or were late paying rent during the previous month.
<BL@199,12,11,10>Almost 10 percent had no place to live.
Among households with children, 73.3 percent reported yearly incomes under 130 percent of the federal poverty level, which is about $28,665 for a family of four. Almost 20 percent reported "very low food security" and about 17 percent of parents said their children went hungry at some point during the past 12 months.
(page 3 of 3)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Very low food security is disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.
Goodman said that families with limited resources often opt for food that will "fill the belly." That often means fresh fruits and vegetables are sacrificed for cheaper processed foods that are high in salt and fat.
"You can make soup from stock and fresh vegetables or you can go and buy an instant noodle container, add water and throw it in the microwave," Goodman said. "One is high in salt, high in fat. It will fill your stomach but it won't be good for you."
Half the food distributed by the food bank is now fresh produce, he said.
On Wednesday, the menu was Chinese for the kids who received the summer lunch box at Knox Presbyterian. The box contained teriyaki chicken with rice, a half-pint carton of Clover milk, strawberries and a fortune cookie.
Anne Bulgerin, a deacon at the church, said the lines for the Thursday evening pantry have grown to as many as 150 families.
"Some of the food comes from parishioners," she said, adding that given the difficult economic times, those who can should do more to help.
Some 70,000 Sonoma County residents seek hunger relief every month from the Redwood Empire Food Bank, an increase of about 20,000 people over two years.
And an ever-larger portion are without work and more people are cramming into households, according to an annual food bank survey.
"There are more people in households relying on fewer incomes," said David Goodman, executive director of the food bank. "We know that people are either losing jobs, are under-employed or not capable of finding work, period."
The number of county residents needing help to feed themselves and their families rose 20 percent in 2008, and another 20 percent in 2009 when 70,000-a-month sought aid. That demand has continued through this year, according to the agency.
At a food bank pantry hosted every Thursday by Knox Presbyterian and Resurrection Church in west Santa Rosa, the number of people who line up from 4 to 5 p.m. for a grocery bag of food has grown dramatically.
"Before, the lines weren't so long," said Angelica Rodriguez of Santa Rosa. Now, "you have to get here early, because if you arrive after 5 the doors are closed; they run out of food."
Rodriguez, her three children and a cousin visited a summer lunch program Wednesday at the church, one of many hunger initiatives the food bank spearheads with more than 146 local groups. The daily program fills the gap left by the absence of a school lunch program during the summer.
Rodriguez said her husband, a roofer, has been working far fewer hours than he did two years ago. He mostly does repair work and is home by early afternoon, she said.
"From January to May, he had no work at all," she said, adding that it was the first time in the 16 years he's been working as a roofer that he went that long without work.
The food bank's survey, titled Hunger in Sonoma County 2010, was conducted during the first four months of 2009, part of larger study that involved 185 food banks across the country. Staff and volunteers from the local food bank interviewed 357 food recipients at food pantries, emergency kitchens and shelters.
More than a quarter of food bank households reported Social Security payments as their primary source of income.
The report also found that only 34.6 percent of adults in a household are currently working.
Goodman said that among the study's most troubling findings was that the median monthly income for families who receive assistance from the food bank is $930, less than one fifth the county's median monthly income of $5,189.
"That one number alone pretty much tells the whole story," he said.
Other findings for food bank recipients include:
<BL@199,12,11,10>Sixty-one percent live at or below the federal poverty line, which is $903 a month for one person, $1,214 for two people, and $1,838 for a family of four.
<BL@199,12,11,10>About a third of recipients had to choose between buying food or paying for utilities, rent, medicine or medical care.
<BL@199,12,11,10>Twenty-one percent had a hard time or were late paying rent during the previous month.
<BL@199,12,11,10>Almost 10 percent had no place to live.
Among households with children, 73.3 percent reported yearly incomes under 130 percent of the federal poverty level, which is about $28,665 for a family of four. Almost 20 percent reported "very low food security" and about 17 percent of parents said their children went hungry at some point during the past 12 months.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Very low food security is disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.
Goodman said that families with limited resources often opt for food that will "fill the belly." That often means fresh fruits and vegetables are sacrificed for cheaper processed foods that are high in salt and fat.
"You can make soup from stock and fresh vegetables or you can go and buy an instant noodle container, add water and throw it in the microwave," Goodman said. "One is high in salt, high in fat. It will fill your stomach but it won't be good for you."
Half the food distributed by the food bank is now fresh produce, he said.
On Wednesday, the menu was Chinese for the kids who received the summer lunch box at Knox Presbyterian. The box contained teriyaki chicken with rice, a half-pint carton of Clover milk, strawberries and a fortune cookie.
Anne Bulgerin, a deacon at the church, said the lines for the Thursday evening pantry have grown to as many as 150 families.
"Some of the food comes from parishioners," she said, adding that given the difficult economic times, those who can should do more to help.
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