INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Nearly 650,000 Hoosiers receive emergency food from food banks annually, according to a new statewide study.

Feeding Indiana’s Hungry and Feeding America conducted the first-ever statewide hunger study released Tuesday.

The report found that nearly 300,000 of those receiving food through the 10 FIsH food banks were children.

The study also found that 46 percent of those surveyed said they had to choose at least once in the last 12 months between buying food or paying utilities.

Gleaner’s President and CEO Pam Altmeyer said the food bank contributed to the report by interviewing more than 400 people across central Indiana.

The United States Department of Agriculture reported in 2009 that an estimated 49 million Americans were at risk of hunger.

Posted 2/2/2010