Feb. 22, 2006, 11:41PM
Some Characteristics of the Hungry
By The Associated Press
© 2006 The Associated Press
— America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest network of food banks, soup kitchens and shelters, served 25.3 million people last year, a 9 percent increase from 2001.
Here are some of the characteristics of those seeking emergency food assistance:
_ Thirty-nine percent were white, non-Hispanic; 38 percent were black; 17 percent were Hispanic.
_ About 9 million were children.
_ Nearly 3 million were 65 or older.
_ Nearly 70 percent had incomes below the official poverty level, which is $15,067 for a family of three.
_ Twelve percent were homeless.
_ Forty-one percent said they have had to choose between buying food or paying for utilities.
_ About a third said they had to choose between buying food or paying for medicine or medical care.
_ Nearly 30 percent had at least one family member in poor health.
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/3679309.html