What does this measure?

The number of meals served by any organization that receives food from a food bank, presented as a rate per resident. This includes a range of organizations from food pantries to emergency shelters to soup kitchens.

Why is this important?

Use of the emergency food network is a measure of financial stress experienced by households in a community. Often, the food budget is the first impacted during difficult times as families redirect their limited resources to other basic needs such as housing or health expenses.

How are Cayuga and Seneca counties performing?

In 2009, 14 emergency meals per resident were served in Cayuga County and 15 in Seneca. These figures were much higher than the state (excluding NYC) rate of 5 and the rates in comparison counties, which ranged from 5 in Wayne County to 8 in Onondaga. In Cayuga, the rate ranged from 5 in 2001 to the 2009 level of 14. In Seneca, the rate ranged from just over 5 in 2006 to the 2009 level of 15. Rates have fluctuated for all counties and the state throughout the decade, with all reporting a significant dip in 2006 before increasing to present levels.

Notes about the data

Comparable national data were not available. Figures are not unique counts as one person may receive multiple meals throughout the year or in one visit to an emergency food pantry.