Latest news with #EasternIllinoisFoodbank
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Food insecurity rates rise 15.5% in Vermilion County
Food insecurity rates rose 15.5% in Vermilion County over the last year, topping Champaign, Iroquois and Peoria Counties. The findings are part of Feeding America's annual Map the Meal Gap study. The study shows that food insecurity affects every county in the United States, with rates reaching almost 50% in some areas. At the local level, Map the Meal Gap finds that 1 in 6—more than 39,000—children are experiencing hunger. What is food insecurity and what does it look like in America? Food insecurity occurs when a household cannot access enough food due to a lack of money and other essential resources. It is often linked to one or multiple factors that lead to food insecurity, creating a cycle that can be hard to break. These factors can be related to household income, expenses, access to affordable health care, the surrounding social and physical environment, and barriers to opportunity which play a role in preventing some households and communities from being food secure. People disproportionately impacted by food insecurity include, but are not limited to, children, many communities of color, households with low incomes, immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, people in certain geographies (e.g., rural areas, cities, the South), people who are formerly incarcerated, and single-parent households. Eastern Illinois Foodbank (EIF) is part of the Feeding America nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, 22 statewide food bank associations and 60,000 agency partners, food pantries and meal programs. Map the Meal Gap, now in its 15th year, is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district. The study builds upon USDA's most recent report of national and state data, which showed 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the highest rate in more than a decade. Map the Meal Gap emphasizes the need for the public to join the movement to end hunger. 'The insights from this year's study will help us address challenges shared with us by people facing hunger and identify opportunities to support the communities we serve and call home,' said EIF President & CEO Kelly Daly. 'This is a powerful tool that empowers us to make informed decisions to effectively alleviate hunger at a time of historic need, and help ensure that all of our neighbors, including children, have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.' At the local level, Map the Meal Gap finds that within EIF's 21-county service area, more than 143,000 people—13.3% of the population—live in food-insecure households. Of those people, nearly 40,000 are children. Food insecurity rates rose in every county in EIF's service area; from low to high, these rates were as follows: Piatt (9.9%), Woodford (10.3%), Douglas (11.5%), McLean (11.7%), Cumberland (11.8%), Moultrie (11.8%), Tazewell (11.8%), Jasper (12%), Clark (12.1%), DeWitt (12.4%), Livingston (12.6%), Crawford (13.1%), Champaign (13.9%), Ford (13.9%), Edgar (14.3%), Iroquois (14.5%), Peoria (14.5%), Mason (14.6%), Vermilion (15.5%), Clay (15.8%), and Coles (16.5%). Other key findings include: Food insecurity impacts communities in every county, parish and congressional district in the U.S. Food insecurity is experienced by people from all backgrounds and demographics, but disparities exist. Estimated food insecurity levels vary across the country, influenced by income-related factors, like unemployment, poverty, high cost of living; community- and health-related factors; and systemic barriers to opportunity that have created disparities in food insecurity. Nationwide, nearly 9 out of 10 high food insecurity counties are rural, indicating regional disparities. Nationally, more than 2 out of 5 people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP benefits due to income limits. In eastern Illinois, more than 44% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP and 29% of children facing hunger may not qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The national food budget shortfall, which reflects the extra money that people who are food insecure report needing to cover their food needs, is $32 billion. This translates to $22.37 a week per person, on average. Residents of Woodford County feel this firsthand, with an estimated food budget shortfall of $26.16. Individuals who were food secure in 2023 reported spending an average of $3.58 per meal. Meal costs vary significantly by county throughout the nation, ranging from $2.60 to $6.09, showcasing the diverse economic challenges faced by communities. In McLean County, the average cost per meal is $3.66, and in Woodford County, the average cost per meal is $4.19, which reflects the growing need we see at Eastern Illinois Foodbank. The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by Conagra Brands Foundation, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, and NielsenIQ/NIQ. Additional key takeaways from the report can be found on the Map the Meal Gap website along with an interactive map that details food insecurity by geography, income, race and ethnicity. Methodology Map the Meal Gap uses publicly available data from USDA Economic Research Service, U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate local food insecurity at the county, congressional district and state levels. The study also estimates local meal costs and food budget shortfalls using food price data from NIQ, based on USDA's Thrifty Food Plan, and grocery sales tax data for every county and state in the country. To learn how food insecurity impacts your community, visit For more information about Eastern Illinois Foodbank and how you can help alleviate hunger, visit
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Food insecurity rates rise 15.5% in Vermilion County
Food insecurity rates rose 15.5% in Vermilion County over the last year, topping Champaign, Iroquois and Peoria Counties. The findings are part of Feeding America's annual Map the Meal Gap study. The study shows that food insecurity affects every county in the United States, with rates reaching almost 50% in some areas. At the local level, Map the Meal Gap finds that 1 in 6—more than 39,000—children are experiencing hunger. What is food insecurity and what does it look like in America? Food insecurity occurs when a household cannot access enough food due to a lack of money and other essential resources. It is often linked to one or multiple factors that lead to food insecurity, creating a cycle that can be hard to break. These factors can be related to household income, expenses, access to affordable health care, the surrounding social and physical environment, and barriers to opportunity which play a role in preventing some households and communities from being food secure. People disproportionately impacted by food insecurity include, but are not limited to, children, many communities of color, households with low incomes, immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, people in certain geographies (e.g., rural areas, cities, the South), people who are formerly incarcerated, and single-parent households. Eastern Illinois Foodbank (EIF) is part of the Feeding America nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, 22 statewide food bank associations and 60,000 agency partners, food pantries and meal programs. Map the Meal Gap, now in its 15th year, is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district. The study builds upon USDA's most recent report of national and state data, which showed 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the highest rate in more than a decade. Map the Meal Gap emphasizes the need for the public to join the movement to end hunger. 'The insights from this year's study will help us address challenges shared with us by people facing hunger and identify opportunities to support the communities we serve and call home,' said EIF President & CEO Kelly Daly. 'This is a powerful tool that empowers us to make informed decisions to effectively alleviate hunger at a time of historic need, and help ensure that all of our neighbors, including children, have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.' At the local level, Map the Meal Gap finds that within EIF's 21-county service area, more than 143,000 people—13.3% of the population—live in food-insecure households. Of those people, nearly 40,000 are children. Food insecurity rates rose in every county in EIF's service area; from low to high, these rates were as follows: Piatt (9.9%), Woodford (10.3%), Douglas (11.5%), McLean (11.7%), Cumberland (11.8%), Moultrie (11.8%), Tazewell (11.8%), Jasper (12%), Clark (12.1%), DeWitt (12.4%), Livingston (12.6%), Crawford (13.1%), Champaign (13.9%), Ford (13.9%), Edgar (14.3%), Iroquois (14.5%), Peoria (14.5%), Mason (14.6%), Vermilion (15.5%), Clay (15.8%), and Coles (16.5%). Other key findings include: Food insecurity impacts communities in every county, parish and congressional district in the U.S. Food insecurity is experienced by people from all backgrounds and demographics, but disparities exist. Estimated food insecurity levels vary across the country, influenced by income-related factors, like unemployment, poverty, high cost of living; community- and health-related factors; and systemic barriers to opportunity that have created disparities in food insecurity. Nationwide, nearly 9 out of 10 high food insecurity counties are rural, indicating regional disparities. Nationally, more than 2 out of 5 people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP benefits due to income limits. In eastern Illinois, more than 44% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP and 29% of children facing hunger may not qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The national food budget shortfall, which reflects the extra money that people who are food insecure report needing to cover their food needs, is $32 billion. This translates to $22.37 a week per person, on average. Residents of Woodford County feel this firsthand, with an estimated food budget shortfall of $26.16. Individuals who were food secure in 2023 reported spending an average of $3.58 per meal. Meal costs vary significantly by county throughout the nation, ranging from $2.60 to $6.09, showcasing the diverse economic challenges faced by communities. In McLean County, the average cost per meal is $3.66, and in Woodford County, the average cost per meal is $4.19, which reflects the growing need we see at Eastern Illinois Foodbank. The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by Conagra Brands Foundation, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, and NielsenIQ/NIQ. Additional key takeaways from the report can be found on the Map the Meal Gap website along with an interactive map that details food insecurity by geography, income, race and ethnicity. Methodology Map the Meal Gap uses publicly available data from USDA Economic Research Service, U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate local food insecurity at the county, congressional district and state levels. The study also estimates local meal costs and food budget shortfalls using food price data from NIQ, based on USDA's Thrifty Food Plan, and grocery sales tax data for every county and state in the country. To learn how food insecurity impacts your community, visit For more information about Eastern Illinois Foodbank and how you can help alleviate hunger, visit
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Over 13% of Central Illinoisans are food insecure: EIF, Feeding America
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Rates of food insecurity rose in every county in the Eastern Illinois Foodbank's (EIF) service area, according to Feeding America's annual Map the Meal Gap study. Map the Meal Gap provides local level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district. The study, now in its 15th year, builds on the USDA's national and state data, showing that 47 million people experienced food insecurity in 2023. This was the highest rate in more than a decade. Funding cuts threaten to deepen hunger crisis as rising costs send more families to food banks In the EIF's area, more than 143,000 people — which is 13.3% of the population — live in food-insecure households. Out of those people, nearly 40,000 are children. In EIF's service area, rates of food insecurity include: Piatt (9.9%) Woodford (10.3%) Douglas (11.5%) McLean (11.7%) Cumberland (11.8%) Moultrie (11.8%) Tazewell (11.8%) Jasper (12%) Clark (12.1%) DeWitt (12.4%) Livingston (12.6%) Crawford (13.1%) Champaign (13.9%) Ford (13.9%) Edgar (14.3%) Iroquois (14.5%) Peoria (14.5%) Macon (14.6%) Vermilion (15.5%) Clay (15.8%) Coles (16.5%) New map to help combat food insecurity in Champaign-Urbana Data also shows that child food insecurity affects every county in the United States, with rates reaching almost 50% in some areas. Nationwide, the study also found that nearly nine out 10 high food insecurity counties are rural. And, more than two out of five people facing hunger nationwide may not qualify for SNAP benefits due to income limits. In Eastern Illinois, that number jumps to 44%, while 29% of children facing hunger may not qualify for free or reduced-price meals. 'The insights from this year's study will help us address challenges shared with us by people facing hunger and identify opportunities to support the communities we serve and call home,' EIF President and CEO Kelly Daly said. 'This is a powerful tool that empowers us to make informed decisions to effectively alleviate hunger at a time of historic need, and help ensure that all of our neighbors, including children, have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
