Documentary Production and Distribution News
AARP's Four-part Online Documentary Series, "Hungry in America"
By StudentFilmmakers.com
posted Aug 31, 2011, 16:11
Hunger Among Older Americans Spikes Nearly 80 Percent Since 2001. AARP Foundation report finds 1 in 11 Americans 50-plus at risk of hunger.
AARP's four-part online documentary series, "Hungry in America,"
is available at:
http://www.aarp.org/giving-back/charitable-giving/info-11-2010/hungry_in_america_a_little_goes_a_long_way.html
Hunger Among Older Americans Spikes Nearly 80 Percent Since 2001. AARP
Foundation report finds 1 in 11 Americans 50-plus at risk of hunger.
(Washington) Nearly 9 million Americans 50 and older face the risk of hunger
according to new research commissioned by AARP Foundation. The report, "Food
Insecurity Among Older Adults," found more than nine percent of older Americans
were at risk of hunger in 2009—a 79 percent increase since 2001.
The research, produced by James P. Ziliak of the University of Kentucky and
Craig Gundersen of the University of Illinois, is the first of its kind to examine
hunger risk among people age 50 to 59—the youngest of the baby boomers.
Because they are typically too young for Social Security and too old to qualify
for programs designed for families with children, this age group can be hit
particularly hard in bad economic times. In 2009, 4.9 million 50- to 59-year-olds
were at risk of hunger, representing a staggering 38 percent increase over 2007.
"For the first time, we have a fuller picture of hunger risk among all
Americans 50-plus. But sadly, it's far more bleak than before," said AARP
Foundation President Jo Ann Jenkins. "The recession has taken an especially
large toll on older people—particularly those in the middle class. Between
2007 and 2009, the most dramatic increase in food insecurity was among those
with annual incomes more than twice the poverty line."
Jenkins announced the new research at the Meals On Wheels Association of America
(MOWAA) annual conference in Chicago. The AARP Foundation report builds on earlier
research commissioned by MOWAA to examine hunger among people 60 and older.
AARP Foundation is working with hunger relief organizations, like MOWAA, to
combat the growing problem of hunger among older Americans.
The report also examined hunger trends among older African Americans and Hispanics,
finding that the risk of hunger remains alarmingly higher among these groups
than whites. The risk of hunger for African Americans and Hispanics in their
50s was twice that of whites over the years studied. In addition, the study
provided detailed analyses of hunger risk across states and major metropolitan
areas, finding that hunger risk was notably higher among those residing in the
South.
AARP Foundation is working to end hunger among older Americans through its
Drive to End Hunger campaign. The effort is raising awareness of hunger in America
and collecting donations to end the crisis. To date, the Foundation has donated
more than 3 million meals through local hunger relief organizations, including
Feeding America member food banks. The Foundation also recently announced a
grant making program to fund innovative hunger-fighting efforts across the country.
Jenkins added: "This report underscores the urgency of our work and the
efforts of organizations like Meals On Wheels. No one in this country—of
any age—should go hungry. With compassion and collaboration, we can solve
this problem."
Resources:
http://www.aarp.org
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