Hunger in New Mexico

• New Mexico is second in the nation with the highest percentage of hungry people. (16.7 percent).

• New Mexico is third in the nation in childhood poverty (27.5%).

• The recent increases in gas and food costs are leaving less food for poor working families.

• New Mexico has only one grocery store for every 480 square miles.

• The number of people seeking emergency food is increasing in New Mexico.  Since 2001, 35% or 66,000 more people sought food from New Mexico’s statewide food bank network annually.

• The number of agencies to help distribute food has decreased.  Run by older volunteers, these agencies are short on monetary and human resources to meet the ever increasing emergency food needs.

• As supermarkets increase their efficiency, the amount of food donated to food banks decreases.

Children

• Childhood hunger is epidemic in New Mexico. More than 85,000 children receive emergency food assistance each year.

• New Mexico consistently ranks among the states with the highest number of children at risk of hunger, with over one quarter, or 27.5%, living in poverty.

• The Faces of Hunger in New Mexico 2005 report, conducted by Roadrunner Food Bank and the New Mexico Association of Food Banks, shows a 33 percent increase in four years in the number of children being served by Roadrunner Food Bank, increasing to 81,000.  The greatest increase was seen in children under the age of five.  The survey also shows that 17 percent of the children are regularly missing meals and another 22 percent are not eating enough food.

• Hunger in children leaves lasting physical and emotional effects.  Hungry children are more prone to illnesses including respiratory and ear infections.  Scientific research indicates that consistently hungry children experience developmental delays, have difficulty learning and lower self esteem.  In teens, there is a higher incidence of suicide.  Additionally, there is a correlation to obesity and hunger in children.

• Access to fresh foods is key to children’s health.  Significant areas of New Mexico have little or no access to fresh and affordable produce and dairy products.  By extending Roadrunner Food Bank's Mobile Pantry service, we will deliver fresh foods to areas not previously reached.

Seniors

• Thousands of New Mexican seniors are faced with terrible choices. Many live on low fixed incomes that do not cover their expenses. They may have outlived their retirement, had to retire early or live on Social Security. All are at risk of hunger as they struggle to pay for their rent, utilities, medicine and purchase food.  Last year, well over 21,000 seniors sought emergency food assistance.

• Seniors are among the most physically vulnerable to hunger.  With age comes unique nutritional needs and medical conditions.  Hunger and the lack of access to nutritious foods compromises their health. Hunger deteriorates their mental and physical well being.  Chronic illnesses worsen with hunger and leave seniors at risk for increased long term care needs and hospitalization.

• The recent report, Faces of Hunger in New Mexico 2005, found that the number of seniors needing food assistance increased by more than 10,000 in four years.  Almost half of the seniors surveyed reported that they regularly struggled to get enough food.  11.5% reported going without food regularly.