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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 4th, 2012 Contact: Celia Cole 512-590-0659 ccole@endhungerintex.

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Report: Children at Risk of Hunger In Every Texas County


Proposed Federal Cuts Would Increase Hunger
Austin A new study released today by Feeding America shows that households with children continue to struggle with hunger in every Texas county. According to the report, over one in four (27.1 percent) Texas children was at risk of going hungry in 2010. This study highlights an unacceptable level of food insecurity among children, said Celia Cole, CEO of the Texas Food Bank Network. Hungry children are more likely to have poor grades and health deficiencies, and these problems translate into lost productivity and higher health care costs as they age. We cannot afford to ignore this problem. The study was released as the Texas legislature conducts an interim study on food insecurity, and Congress debates funding for the federal SNAP program (aka food stamps). A federal House Committee including three Texas legislators recently proposed cutting SNAP by $33 Billion. One in four Texas children receives SNAP benefits in Texas - nearly two million children. Children account for more than half of the states SNAP caseload. If SNAP is cut, our food banks will not be able to shoulder the difference, said Cole. Our Members of Congress need to commit to our collective investment in child nutrition, or risk the consequences of increased child hunger in our state. The national study was produced by Feeding America with support from the ConAgra Foods Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation and Nielsen. Journalists and the public can browse local child food insecurity estimates using an interactive map found at http://j.mp/MapTheMealGap. The Texas Food Bank Network provides a unified voice among twenty food banks in support of a common mission to end hunger in Texas. www.endhungerintex.org ##

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