Why should you walk?

The facts about hunger

• Nationally, nearly 20 percent of Americans live in hungry or food-insecure households.

• In Washington, one in five households reported they didn't have enough money to buy the food they needed in 2009.

• In Pierce County, there were a total of 445,765 (unduplicated) visits to food banks and 11,586,135 meals provided.

• In Pierce County, more than 140,000 children, seniors and adults seek-out food every month.

 

Of these individuals:

• 53 percent are children and seniors (39% children under 18, 14% individuals over 55)

• 99% fall below the national poverty line

• Almost half are families with at least one adult working

How you can help

Join us for Associated Ministries’ 31st Annual Hunger Walk, Sunday, October 2, from noon to 4 pm at Fort Steilacoom Park, 9601 Steilacoom Boulevard in Lakewood. Register or donate beginning July 15th and help fight hunger.

About the Emergency Food Network

The Emergency Food Network (EFN) is a non-profit food distributor serving more than 70 food banks, hot meal sites and shelters. It began in 1982 with a mission “to provide a reliable food supply so that no person in Pierce County goes hungry.” Today it provides more than three quarters of the food being distributed to those in need by feeding programs in the county. For every dollar donated, EFN is able to distribute approximately $12 worth of food to the more than 70 feeding programs it serves.

In 2009, the Emergency Food Network:

- Distributed $18.9 million worth of food and other essentials to the 65 feeding programs it serves through the Distribution Center in Lakewood

- Harvested more than 148,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables at the 8-acre organic Mother Earth Farm in Orting.

- Repackaged 408,000 pounds of frozen product through its Repack Project.

- Accomplished all of the above with a staff of eleven, a dedicated corps of more than 1,700 volunteers, and a low administrative and fund-raising overhead of under 4%.

These activities make EFN unique—it is an agency able to take food straight from the ground to the tables of those in need. For more information, www.efoodnet.org.

Your gift keeps on giving

For every dollar donated, the Emergency Food Network is able to distribute $12 worth of food to the more than 70 feeding programs it serves. Here’s a sample of what your dollars can do:

$1,000 provides over one year's worth of food for a family of four

$500 provides 2,500 meals for children during the summer when school lunches are unavailable

$250 provides thirteen cases of Ensure for seniors, those with long-term illnesses, and those with special dietary needs

$100 allows for an infant in need to have two months of baby formula

$50 provides three weeks worth of food for a family of four

$25 provides 125 meals for children during the summer when school lunches are unavailable