CHICAGO, Jan. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Feeding America today issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address:

Statement attributable to Bob Aiken, CEO of Feeding America:

"In his State of the Union Address tonight, President Barack Obama spoke about income inequality and creating opportunity for all Americans.

"We believe that the starting point for changing inequality, and making opportunity a reality for everyone, is to ensure that every American has enough to eat, so that they can survive and even thrive.

"Sadly, this is not the state of our country today. One in five children in our nation live in homes that the USDA identifies as being food insecure, meaning that they lack consistent access to adequate amounts of healthy and nutritious food. Forty-nine million Americans overall are food insecure.

"The President also spoke of the 'American Dream.' We believe that that dream cannot be realized when people are living on the brink of hunger.

"Feeding America works to provide food for all Americans in need. Our food banks distribute food to 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children. We see on a daily basis how economic opportunity is still out of reach for many hardworking Americans, and we see the importance of the social safety net to families in peril.

"We heard many ideas tonight from both parties about how to restore economic opportunity and again put the 'American Dream' within reach. We agree that a strong economy and a well-paying job are the best solution to poverty and income inequality, but we also have a responsibility to protect families from hunger when they fall on hard times.

"Feeding America calls on leaders from both parties to work together to provide economic opportunity for all Americans, and to support vulnerable families on their path to self-sufficiency."

About Feeding America
Feeding America is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 37 million people through 61,000 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate.  Together we can solve hunger. Visit http://www.feedingamerica.org/. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

Contact:

Ross Fraser
Feeding America
312.641.6422

SOURCE Feeding America