HUNGER FACTS....

According to the Map of the Meal Gap created by Feeding America:

In 2010,
-The food insecurity level in New Jersey was 13.5% overall and 18.6% for children.
(Food insecurity level counts households who experienced food insecurity at least once in the year)

-The number of people living in food insecure households was 1,190,130, of which 380,170 were children.

-Only 55% of these households who are considered food insecure qualify for SNAP by falling within the threshold of 185% of the federal poverty level.

In 2011,
-The food insecurity level in New Jersey was 12.7% overall and 19.0% for children.
394,240 children were living in food insecure households.

According to the US Census of 2010 and 2011,

-New Jersey had a population of 8,821,155 in 2011; 23.2% of that population was under the age of 18 and 9.4% of that population was living below the federal poverty level. 

-About 897,376 people in NJ were living below poverty level in 2011

Other Hunger Facts:

-The number of households in NJ experiencing food hardship increased from an average of 7.7% in 2004-2006 to 11.5% in 2007-2009.(USDA, November 2010)

-42% of the members of households in New Jersey served by the emergency food are children under 18 years old (up from 33% in 2006); 8% of the members of households are children age 0 to 5 years.* 

-Among households with children served, 83% are food insecure (up from 77% in ’06), and 37% are food insecure with very low food security.*

-49% of emergency food clients in NJ report having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities or heating fuel. (40% in ’06); 48% had to choose between paying for food and paying their rent or mortgage (up from 39% in ’06); 34% had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care. (up from 31% in ’06) *(NJ Federation of Food Banks hunger survey, February 2010)