Program Impact

According to the 2019 U.S. Census, the poverty level for East Ridge ranked much higher than the overall percentage for both the United States and the State of Tennessee. The overall poverty percentage rate of East Ridge was 16.6% while the level for Tennessee was 13.9% and the rate for the United States was 10.5%. There are more alarming statistics coming out of the State of Tennessee regarding poverty and its effect on hunger as reported by the hunger-relief organization, Feeding America. Feeding America reports that in Hamilton County, TN there are approximately 13,140 (17.6% of overall kids) children labeled as food insecure. As such, 33% of families in Hamilton County are likely ineligible for federal nutrition programs. 

What this means is that children are likely relying on their schools solely for a hot meal approximately 1 to 2 times per day. Therefore, when school is not in session due to breaks or during the summer months, children are left wondering where their next meal will come from. 

This also means that these children are experiencing difficulties with their grades as they are worried about their personal poverty and hunger issues. Their failure to excel in the classroom along with the issues at hand will most likely cause students to drop out of school. 

Food insecurity refers to the USDA’s measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. Food insecure children are those children living in households experiencing food insecurity. Food insecure households are not necessarily food insecure all the time. Food insecurity may reflect a household’s need to make trade-offs between important basic needs, such as housing or medical bills, and purchasing nutritionally adequate foods. 

Finally, statistics released from the State of Tennessee in 2019 regarding teen suicide and its rates are the most shocking. Our community of Hamilton County, TN estimated 50 total suicides for the county with approximately 15 attributed to teenagers. That same year saw a fourth grader at one of the local elementary schools as one of those victims. While these numbers reflect an estimation only, it is believed that these numbers could possibly double or triple in the next few years. These statistics do not include surrounding counties. 

As you can see East Ridge is in dire need of assistance for those facing poverty, hunger, or a sense of belonging. While these numbers are expected to rise, as stated above, our goal is to provide a safe place for students to go after school and when school is not in session to expose them to new physical activity opportunities, nutritional education, and allow for academic improvement. The core values of Rec Project are inclusion, integrity, excellence, and collaboration.