Book Description
Abstract: The impact of food assistance programs on hunger in the U.S. is evaluated, in response to White House inquiries concerning the expenditure of food assistance dollars during the past decade. Data is first presented on the extent of hunger in America, and counties which are most in need of federal food aid are identified. The development of food assistance programs since 1968 is traced through the recent history and success of such programs as food stamps, school lunch and other child nutrition programs, commodity distribution, WIC and nutrition education programs. Based on USDA Food and Nutrition Service data, food assistance funds appear to have gone to areas most in need, with average per person assistance increasing from $21.98 in 1967 to $153.91 in 1976 in the most needy counties. In these counties, food assistance payments represented 18% of each real dollar increase in per capita retail food sales; food spending was affected to a greater degree by increases in food assistance payments than by increases in earned income.