La Crosse Area Hunger Statistics
  • 10.7% of the people in La Crosse County live in poverty.
  • 14.2% of the people living in Vernon County live in poverty.
  • 36% of the students in the school district of La Crosse receive free or reduced meals.
  • 8 schools in the La Crosse school district operate food pantries for their students.
    (Hamilton, Franklin, Emerson, Longfellow Middle, Logan Middle School, Logan High School and Summit)
  • WIC ( Women, Infants, and Children) report increase in usage.
  • 81% of local food pantry users earn less than $1,000 per month.
  • Of those enrolled in W-2 and working, 91% use food pantries to get food when they do not have enough to eat.
  • According to 1999 figures, a adult and one child would have to earn $11.90 an hour to be self-sufficient (able to pay their monthly costs for housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, taxes) Source: Education Fund of the Wisconsin Women's Network.
  • In June 2002, WAFER distributed 759 food packages; in June 2003 WAFER distributed 854 food packages.
  • Approximately 17% of the people served by WAFER are of Asian descent.

             

Effect of Inadequate Diet on Children

Children who are denied an adequate diet are at a greater risk than other low-income children of not reaching their full potential as individuals.  Children who are undernourished have trouble concentrating and bonding with other children and are more likely to suffer illnesses that force them to be absent from school.  They consistently perform more poorly on standardized tests.  Poor performance early in school is a major risk factor for dropping out of school in later years.  According to labor statistics, educational attainment is perhaps the greatest indicator of job and income mobility, so the impact of childhood hunger can be lifelong.

                      Studies have also shown time and time again that even mildly undernourished children may potentially suffer abnormal brain, cognitive, and psychological impairment that, if not corrected, can be irreversible.  Recent research conducted by the Center on Hunger, Poverty and Nutritional Policy at Tufts University found compelling evidence that improved nutrition can modify and even reverse these effects, which makes supplemental programs critical.