AUSTIN—A new study by Feeding America shows households with children continue to struggle with hunger in every Texas county.
According to the report, 27 percent of Texas children were at risk of going hungry in 2010.
“This study highlights an unacceptable level of food insecurity among children,” said Celia Cole, CEO of the Texas Food Bank Network . “Hungry children are more likely to have poor grades and health deficiencies, and these problems translate into lost productivity and higher health care costs as they age. We cannot afford to ignore this problem.”
The study was released as the Texas legislature conducts an interim study on food insecurity, and Congress debates funding for the federal SNAP program (better known as food stamps).
A federal House Committee including three Texas legislators recently proposed cutting SNAP by $33 billion. One in four Texas children receives SNAP benefits in Texas—nearly 2 million children. Children account for more than half of the state’s SNAP caseload.
“If SNAP is cut, our food banks will not be able to shoulder the difference,” Cole said. “Our members of Congress need to commit to our collective investment in child nutrition, or risk the consequences of increased child hunger in our state.”
The national study was produced by Feeding America with support from the ConAgra Foods Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation and Nielsen.
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