Latest news with #MaptheMealGap
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Study: New Mexico ranks 4th in the nation for childhood hunger
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A recent study shows children in New Mexico are more at risk of hunger than almost anywhere else in the country. Roadrunner Food Bank said they are doing all they can, but are worried about potential federal funding cuts that help put food on tables. According to Feeding America's 2025 Map the Meal Gap national study, New Mexico places 4th in the nation for childhood hunger. Roadrunner Food Bank said the data is similar to years past. According to the study, 1 in 6 people in the state, and 1 in 4 children, are food insecure. 'There is plenty of food in this country. There is plenty of food in this state. There is plenty of food to feed everyone who needs it. It is access that is the problem,' said Communications Manager for Roadrunner Food Bank Jimmy Himes-Ryann. Story continues below Trending: Rio Rancho High baseball player accused of urinating in water jug no longer faces charges News: VIDEO: Albuquerque man accused of killing 14 dogs denies accusations Environment: Researcher explains why earthquakes are rattling parts of New Mexico Access is what Roadrunner is working to improve. The food bank worries about potential cuts to SNAP benefits. That's why they were in D.C. on Wednesday, testifying at a hearing to discuss SNAP benefits, raising concerns about potentially shifting the burden of paying for SNAP onto the states. The food bank worries about the potential need for more food bank services if fewer families have access to SNAP. 'Drastic cuts and changes to SNAP will cause hunger to grow at a exponential rate,' said Vice President of Strategy, Partnerships, and Advocacy at Roadrunner Food Bank Katy Anderson at the hearing. 'It would mean more than tripling our current food distribution output simply to ensure comparable access to what is available today.' Roadrunner Food Bank said their services are especially important right now as children are on summer break and may be missing out on the only meal they depend on during the school day. 'The state of New Mexico provides around 300,000 meals to students who go to public schools in the state. The need in the summer is exceptionally high because a lot of students are getting that third meal at school exclusively,' said Himes-Ryann. According to the study, the counties with the highest rates of childhood food insecurity include Catron, McKinley, and Luna. To learn more about volunteering or donating, click this link. The KRQE Cares Food for Kids program also has donation bins at Smith's stores in the metro, where community members can drop off non-perishables, diapers, and more throughout the summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Study shows an increase in child food insecurity in Cass County
Like nearly every county in in the United States, Cass County is affected by child food insecurity daily. According to a study released last week by Feeding America called Map the Meal Gap, about 1 in 6, or 18.1%, of children in Cass County are experiencing food insecurity. The numbers mirror Food Finders Food Bank's overall 16-county service area, which is about 1 in 5 children (20%). The service area includes Cass, Howard, Miami, Carroll, Fulton and Pulaski counties. 'Leveraging the data in this year's study will help us address challenges shared with us by people facing hunger and identify local ways to support our community,' said Kier Crites Muller, president/CEO of Food Finders. 'Hunger remains an urgent crisis throughout our 16-county service area. When we listen to our neighbors facing hunger and use the study's findings, we can unite to create a future where everyone, including children, can access the nutritious food they need to thrive. 'This mission becomes even more critical as threats to vital social safety net programs like SNAP, TEFAP, and Medicaid could worsen food insecurity for our most vulnerable populations, particularly children who rely on these essential services.' 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 national and state data report, which showed 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the highest rate in over a decade. Map the Meal Gap emphasizes the need for the public to join the movement to end hunger. 'Food Finders is thankful to our agency partners in Cass County for being an essential partner in the fight against hunger,' the press release said. 'Their determination and countless volunteer hours have a tangible impact on our communities.' Food Finders' partners in Cass County include: • Emmaus Mission Center ( 19 W. Richardville St., Logansport. Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mon., Wed., Fri.; 4 to 6 p.m. Wed. • Felix's Pantry, 410 W. Miami Ave., Logansport. Hours: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thurs. • Logansport Salvation Army ( 620 Wilkinson St., Logansport. Hours: 1 to 4 p.m. Tues. and Thurs. • Trinity Episcopal Church, 319 Seventh St., Logansport. Hours: 3 to 5:30 p.m. on second and fourth Wednesday of month, or call 574-753-2733 for appt. Other key findings of Map the Meal Gap include: • Overall, food insecurity rates increased in Cass County, with 15.8%, or 1 in 7 residents experiencing food insecurity. • Nationally, more than 2 out of 5 people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP benefits due to income limits. In Cass County, 46% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP. • Food Finders serves communities with food insecurity ranging from 13% in Clinton County to 16.7% in Miami County. • Food insecurity also varies for different age groups. Among children, food insecurity in Food Finders 16-county service area ranges from 14.2% in Clinton County to 23.4% in Howard County. • In Food Finders' 16-county service area, available data by race/ethnicity shows that 14% of white individuals, 33% of Black individuals, and 24% of Latino individuals experienced food insecurity in 2023. Map the Meal Gap used 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 see more information and view the map, visit For more information about Food Finders Food Bank, visit
Axios
27-05-2025
- General
- Axios
Childhood hunger rates worsen in Philly
Nearly a third of all children are food insecure, per new estimates from Feeding America. The big picture: Federal funding cuts to food aid programs, rising costs, tariffs and potential Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) changes could squeeze food banks and exacerbate the childhood hunger crisis. "For the third consecutive year, the reported need increased," says Adam Dewey, research director at Feeding America. By the numbers: The childhood food insecurity rate in Philly proper hit 30.5% in 2023, up from roughly 24% in 2019, per Feeding America's latest Map the Meal Gap report published last week. That means childhood hunger affects roughly 103,400 kids in the city. Plus: In Philly, 30% of all residents are enrolled in SNAP, including more than 183,000 people under 21 years old. Zoom out: In the nearby Philly burbs, the childhood food insecurity rates were: Delaware County: 17.7% Montgomery County: 11.1% Bucks County: 10.7% Chester County: 8.7% Threat level: Proposed federal SNAP cuts would shift more administrative costs and program funding to states, expand work requirements, and likely force states like Pennsylvania to cut benefits, per a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report. Friction point: All public school students in the U.S. received free breakfast and lunch during the pandemic, but Pennsylvania kept only free breakfast after the program ended in 2022. Now, students pay lunch fees based on income, leaving nearly 50,000 kids just above the cutoff without help, Spotlight PA reports. The big picture: Childhood food insecurity is one piece of a broader hunger problem exacerbated by rising food costs. The annual aggregate national food budget shortfall — meaning, the total amount of money people in food-insecure U.S. households need to buy enough food — rose from $28.5 billion in 2022 to $32.2 billion in 2023, up 8.4% inflation-adjusted. How it works: Map the Meal Gap is an annual effort to make local estimates about food insecurity among different groups, in part by using government data.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hunger to Hope Summer Food Drive
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – WFXR News is partnering with Goodwill Industries of the Valleys and Feeding Southwest Virginia to host the Hunger to Hope: Summer Food Drive, a one-day food and donation event supporting families facing food insecurity across the region. The live food drive will take place on Friday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Market on Melrose in Roanoke. WFXR will broadcast live throughout the day, sharing stories of impact and encouraging viewers to give what they can, whether it's a bag of groceries, a monetary donation, or a moment of their time. Feeding Southwest Virginia partners with USPS for 'Stamp Out Hunger' 'It takes a community to feed a community. Unfortunately, hunger is here, right where we live,' said Pamela Irvine, President and CEO of Feeding Southwest Virginia. 'Partnerships are so very important to the Food Bank, and we are so grateful for our successful partnership with Goodwill and WFXR and for their commitment to address the problem of hunger in our community. Only together will we have an impact in reducing hunger.' 'At Goodwill and the Market on Melrose, we believe that real change happens when we come together to meet the needs of our neighbors,' said Angela Stanfill, Senior Vice President of Operations at Goodwill. 'Hunger, hardship, and inequity exist right here at home, and that's why strong partnerships are essential. We are proud to stand alongside Feeding Southwest Virginia and WFXR in the shared mission to nourish, support, and empower our community. Together, we are building a stronger, more hopeful future.' Donations collected at the Market on Melrose and at participating Goodwill donation centers (June 7–13) will be distributed directly to local pantries and partner organizations. More 'Hunger to Hope' stories on This year's event comes amid new data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap report, revealing that nearly 20% of children nationwide are experiencing food insecurity, with rates reaching up to 50% in some rural counties. Monetary donations can also be made on-site or online. All proceeds go directly to Feeding Southwest Virginia's food distribution programs. List of drop-off locations: Market on Melrose- 2502 Melrose Ave NW A, Roanoke, VA 24017 Vinton Store – 907 Hardy Road, Vinton, VA Hunting Hills Store – 4335 Pheasant Ridge Road, Roanoke, VA Hollins Store – 6315 Archcrest Drive, Roanoke, VA Cave Spring Store – 3206 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA Salem Store – 1493 E. Main Street, Salem, VA West Salem Store – 1830 West Main Street, Salem, VA Daleville Store – 125 Commons Parkway, Daleville, VA Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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
