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

Total Population - 18.6 million, including:

• Approximately 4.5 million children (< 18 years old)
• Approximately 2.3 million elderly (age 65 and older)

Median household income - $44,228*

• 14.4% of population live in poverty
• Approximately 970,000 children live in poverty
• Approximately 353,000 elderly live in poverty

Food Insecurity Rate - 10.5%*

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 New York State Food Bank Association. The association's 10 member food banks and food rescue organizations support programs statewide that help feed about 2.1 million clients each year- about 500,000 individuals weekly. Of clients served in 2005:

• 30% were children younger than 18
• 11% were ederly
• 43% receive Food Stamp Program benefits

• 49% of client households include at least one employed adult
• 67% had incomes below the official poverty level in the previous month

• 37% report having to choose between buying food and paying utility bills
• 34% have had to choose between buying food and paying the rent or mortgage
• 24% have had to choose between buying food and paying for health care

• 65% of client households were considered “food insecure”