Children and seniors make up a large percentage of those who are hungry. In response to that, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank runs several special programs designed to feed those who are the most vulnerable.
Hungry children can suffer from chronic malnutrition. Nutritional deficiencies can lead to serious health problems such as impaired cognitive development, growth failure, poor overall health, more ear infections, diabetes, physical weakness, anemia and more. Children who are hungry have also shown poor performance in school, have shorter attention spans, poor test taking skills, and are less likely to become productive and break the cycle of poverty.
Similar to childhood hunger, hunger experienced by seniors can have lasting and life-altering effects. Studies indicate insufficient nutrition intake by seniors can compromise the efficiency of prescription drugs and reduce the quality and longevity of life.
For more information on how the Food Bank assists those that are hungry, click on the list of programs in the gray box on the left.