Children may go hungry

WASHINGTON — An estimated 3.5 million children younger than 5 are at risk of hunger in the U.S., according to government numbers provided by an anti-hunger group.

That’s more than 17 percent of children who could suffer cognitive and developmental damage if they are not properly fed.

The nonprofit advocacy group Feeding America based its findings on 2005-07 data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Agriculture Department. The study, released Thursday, is the first to look at these numbers for children under the age of 5, according to the group. Feeding America runs food banks and feeding centers across the country.

Five states in the region — Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas — made the list of 11 where more than 20 percent of those under 5 are at risk of going hungry.

According to the Agriculture Department, 11 percent of households lacked enough food for an active, healthy life before the economy worsened late last year.

The study looks at a range of children who are at risk, from those who have low quality or variety of food to those who regularly experience hunger.

A lack of nutritious food can have a lasting impact on physical and behavioral health, along with development and academic achievement.

"These children without the availability of nutrition don’t have the chance to spring back,” said Vicki Escarra, president and chief executive of Feeding America.

Anne Goodman, executive director of the Cleveland Foodbank in Ohio, says there are several successful programs to feed school-age children, but beyond government nutrition programs, infants and toddlers can be harder to help.


by the associated press