First-ever countywide survey of Food Bank's client population reveals vital data

In partnership with Point Loma Nazarene Univeristy's Fermanian Business & Economic Institute, the Food Bank launched its first-ever survey of its client population. This groundbreaking survey "puts a face" on the population the Food Bank serves daily.Point Loma Nazarene chief economist, Dr. Lynn Reaser said, "People standing in the Food Bank's lines are working families who cannot afford to make ends meet, senior citizens forced into early retirement by the Great Recession who are living below the poverty level, and, sadly, children living in poverty who live in 'food insecure' homes and often do not know where they will get their next meal."Here are some of the highlighted findings of the study:- A majority of households the Food Bank serves, 66%, have at least one wage earner, but cannot make enough to put food on the table.- Over half, 55%, of the households the Food Bank serves are Hispanic and nearly one-third, 29%, is Caucasian.- Nearly a quarter, 24%, of the seniors the Food Bank serves were forced into early retirement because of job loss.- 46% of the households the Food Bank serves have received help from the Food Bank for less than six months.With the vital information found through this countywide survey, the Food Bank will be better equipped to bridge the gap between it and government programs establishing community partnerships to better serve the needs of nearly 350,000 hungry San Diegans every month at 153 distribution sites throughout the County.During Tuesday's press conference, our CEO James Floros said, "We work over 350 nonprofit organizations every month… really bring together that community conversation to see if we can break that cycle of poverty."Click here to read the full report: San Diego's Food Bank Population - Profile, Analysis, and Solutions