Rhode Island Facts:
  • Approximately 1 out of 8 Rhode Island households are food insecure, meaning they have uncertain availability of adequate and nutritious food.

  • One out of 5 children in Rhode Island lives in poverty (21%) - RI has the highest child poverty rate in New England.

  • In 2004, the RI Community Food Bank network of member agencies provided food for more than 60,000 people.

  • Nearly half of Rhode Island's poor children are white, yet African American, Hispanic and Native American children   are three times more likely to be living in poverty.

  • 7.7% of Rhode Island's hungry are 65 or older, 49.3% are between the ages of 18 and 65, and 43% are under 18.

  • Females make up 66% of Rhode Islanders seeking emergency food assistance.  


National Facts:
  • Even though the world produces enough food for everyone to live a healthy and productive life, approximately 852 million people suffer from hunger worldwide.

  • In the US, approximately 38 million people are unable to afford a healthy diet; over 13 million of them are children.

  • Last year, 13.3 % of all individuals, and 18.5% of children lived below the federal poverty level, that is, with less than $20,000 for a family of 4. 

  • Almost 100 billion pounds of edible food is thrown away each year by retailers, restaurants and farmers.

  • 12.5% of the nation's hungry are 65 and older, 49.5% are between the ages of 18 and 65, and 38% are under 18.