Imagine the thought of not being able to feed your hungry child, or having to choose between food, electricity or medical care. Can you envision the agonizing feeling of helplessness? The thought alone is horrific, however, it is the reality for nearly 17,000 children living in Santa Barbara County. Families residing in low-income households are devastated by high rent prices and low wages, which only intensifies their experience with food insecurity. Many families are living paycheck to paycheck and still do not qualify for government assistance. Even if they do, many of them lack the awareness or knowledge needed to find and make use of the programs intended to help them.
One in six children in Santa Barbara County are food insecure; many of them living only on the meals they are provided during school. In order to be eligible for free or reduced price (FRP) meals, their family income must be at or below 185 percent of the state’s poverty level. According to the 2019 United States Census Bureau, this equates to approximately $48,000 a year for a family of four with two adults and two children living in Santa Barbara. Out of the 17,000 children living in low-income households, only 66 percent of them fall in this range. These numbers are devastating and will hinder a child’s opportunity to live a vigorous life when chronically faced with hunger.
Research shows that children who do not have enough to eat during the first three years of their life begin with an array of disadvantages. Those who endure hunger in their first year are particularly susceptible to harm as it impacts physical growth, decreases the body’s capacity to fight disease, limits brain size and functioning, and stunts intellectual capacity. Studies also show that food insufficiency in school-aged children is related to an increase in poor health conditions, including stomachaches, headaches, colds, chronic illness, social disturbances, developmental impairments, and stress. Therefore, it is imperative that children receive proper nutrition during this crucial phase of their development.