Hunger in Maryland
In the wealthiest state in the country, 12.5 percent, or one in eight households faces a constant struggle against hunger. Maryland is home to three of the wealthiest counties in the nation, Howard, Montgomery and Calvert Counties, but it can be extremely difficult to live in poverty and struggle against hunger in the state. With the cost of living in many Maryland counties well above the national average, families are struggling to pay their housing costs, put gas in their cars and pay their heating and air conditioning bills. Many Maryland families may make choices that lead to hunger and poor nutrition. Many children go without meals. Adults struggling with low wages wonder if they have enough food to last the week. Seniors must choose between paying for food or for medicine.
Data from USDA's Household Food Security in the United States, 2010.
FRAC's report on Food Hardship In America 2010 (pdf).
Even when families can scrape together enough, a balanced and healthy diet is beyond their reach. Sometimes the outcome is obesity, an ironic by-product of having too few resources to purchase good food. Recent studies suggest that not eating breakfast, can lead to higher obesity rates among teens. The obesity rates have been rising in Maryland, and the state is part of the nationwide epidemic of obesity.
Hunger and obesity result from low wages, a lack of information and inadequate participation in nutrition and other assistance programs. Without proper nutrition or enough food, children do not develop to their full potential and adults are not as productive as they could be. The cost to affected individuals is irreparable. The cost to government and society is far greater than what it would take to assure three healthy meals a day.
Federal food programs can help connect hungry Marylanders to three meals a day. By getting more children to participate in school breakfast and lunch, or afterschool snacks, we can make sure that children don’t go hungry during the school day. We can also connect families to programs like food stamps or the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program to help them put healthy food on the table.
