Join us for the First Annual Hunger Index Forum on Thursday, February 19th, 2015 at 4pm. Click here for a flyer about the event.
2014 Hunger Index for Sonoma County
Sonoma County is dedicated to closing the missing meal gap for families, children and seniors.
That is why multiple community partners have come together to determine how many meals are missing in our neighborhoods. Measuring this gap helps us gauge our progress as a community, as well as forecast the challenges that lay ahead. The 2014 Hunger Index shows that the amount of food needed to close the meal gap is alarmingly high and that action is needed in our communities.
Less missing meals but more work to do.
In the last year food assistance has increased by 12%, at the same time that families are able to purchase more meals themselves. Despite these improvements Sonoma County’s meal gap still needs attention and several efforts are ongoing to address this problem.
Here’s How It Works
“We calculate the Hunger Index by totaling the number of meals that local, low-income families need based on the USDA’s Food Plan. We then subtract the number of meals they purchase on their own. Next, we account for the meals they get through food assistance programs.
What’s left is the number of “Missing Meals” that often translate into skipping lunch and going to bed hungry.”
If You Need Help
Call our general referral line, Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm at 523-7900 to find out how to sign-up for a food program or CalFresh benefits.
Visit the Value Market at 3990 Brickway Blvd., Santa Rosa.
Open Monday – Saturday, 10:30am – 6:30pm.
Call 2-1-1 or visit the County CalFresh website for more services.
In addition to the REFB, the following organizations participated in this effort:
For more information and to register for the event go to: http://refb.org/hunger_index/index.html