(All population figures are 2004 estimates, unless otherwise noted)

Total Population - 8.5 million, including:

• Approximately 2.16 million children (< 18 years old)
• Approximately 1.06 million elderly (age 65 and older)

Median household income - $56,772*

• 8% of population live in poverty
• Approximately 184,000 children live in poverty
• Approximately 100,000 elderly live in poverty

Food Insecurity Rate - 8.5%*

Food insecurity is defined as having “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.” The USDA’s food security scale classifies food insecurity as both with and without hunger.

*Three-year average, 2002-2004

Source: America's Second Harvest, Hungry in America 2006

The following is provided by the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. The Hillside-based food bank supports food assistance agencies and programs that serve about 537,000 clients each year- about 87,400 individuals per week. Of clients served in 2005:

• 36% were children younger than 18
• 7% were ederly
• 33% receive Food Stamp Program benefits

• 30% of client households include at least one employed adult
• 68% had incomes below the official poverty level in the previous month

• 41% report having to choose between buying food and paying utility bills
• 40% have had to choose between buying food and paying the rent or mortgage
• 31% have had to choose between buying food and paying for health care

• 74% of client households were considered “food insecure”

Among food insecure households:

• 76% include children
• 32% were "food insecure with hunger"
• 22% of food insecure with hunger households include children

The following is provided by the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Food assistance programs supported by the Neptune food bank serve about 69,300 clients each year- about 14,100 individuals per week. Of clients served in 2005:

• 27% were children younger than 18
• 11% were ederly
• 28% receive Food Stamp Program benefits

• 44% of client households include at least one employed adult
• 52% had incomes below the official poverty level in the previous month

• 37% report having to choose between buying food and paying utility bills
• 35% have had to choose between buying food and paying the rent or mortgage
• 32% have had to choose between buying food and paying for health care

• 68% of client households were considered “food insecure”

Among food insecure households:

• 85% include children
• 38% were "food insecure with hunger"
• 45% of food insecure with hunger households include children