Survey Results Show Face of Hunger in Berks

With more than 10,000 local individuals receiving emergency food assistance in any given week, The Greater Berks Food Bank and United Way of Berks County partnered to participate in the Hunger in America 2010 study to better understand the need for food in our community.

To carry out the study, which was conducted on a national level by Feeding America (formerly Second Harvest) and the research firm Mathematica, United Way recruited 70 volunteers to spend more than 500 hours interviewing 225 clients at food pantries and soup kitchens throughout Berks, Schuylkill and western Montgomery Counties.  The Hunger Study also included surveys to soup kitchens and shelters to gather information about their operations, volunteers and the number of clients they serve.

This information was sent to Mathematica, where the organization used extensive statistical analysis and scientific methods to tabulate the information and compile the final report.  To read a summary of this report, please click here.  For more information, contact Jen O'Brien at 610-685-4586.