Mother Earth Farm
Cannery Project
Orchard
Statistics
Statistics
The Emergency Food Network (EFN) is a non-profit food distributor serving over 70 food banks, hot meal sites and shelters in Pierce County. It was begun in 1982 with a mission “to provide a reliable food supply so that no person in Pierce County goes hungry.” Today it provides more than three quarters of the food being distributed to those in need by feeding programs in the county.
National and Statewide Hunger Facts
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10.9% of Americans live in hungry or food-insecure households.
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Households with children have almost double the rate of food insecurity compared to those without (16% vs. 9%).
Each month in Pierce County more than 130,000 children, seniors and adults seek help finding food in Pierce County. Of these individuals:
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53% are children and seniors (39% children under 19, 14% individuals over 55)
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98% fall below the national poverty line
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43% are families with at least one adult working
During 2007, a total of 694,986 clients (duplicated count) received 7,310,089 meals at Pierce County food banks. An additional 888,648 sit-down meals were provided by local hot meal sites.
Every dollar makes a difference to hungry families in our community. For every dollar donated, EFN is able to distribute $12 worth of food to the 70 feeding programs it serves. Here’s a sample of what your dollars can do:
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$1,000 provides over one year's worth of food for a family of four
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$500 provides 2,500 meals for children during the summer when school lunches are unavailable
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$250 provides thirteen cases of Ensure for seniors, those with long-term illnesses, and those with special dietary needs
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$100 allows for an infant in need to have two months of baby formula
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$50 provides three weeks worth of food for a family of four
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$25 provides 125 meals for children during the summer when school lunches are unavailable
In 2007, the Emergency Food Network:
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Distributed $13.3 million worth of food and other essentials to the 70 feeding programs it serves through the Distribution Center in Lakewood
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Harvested more than 160,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables at the 8-acre organic Mother Earth Farm in Orting.
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Produced more than 40,000 cans through its Cannery Project in Kent
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Accomplished all of the above with a staff of eleven, a dedicated corps of more than 1,600 volunteers, and a low administrative and fundraising overhead of 3.4%
These activities make EFN unique—it is the only agency of its kind in the country able to take food straight from the ground to the tables of those in need.
