Ellen Carlson’s Post

Hunger is not just a problem here in San Diego. It's nationwide. Feeding San Diego is a partner food bank of Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization. Every year, Feeding America releases the latest findings from its annual Map the Meal Gap study. The findings released today emphasize the urgent call for all of us to take action. According to the new data from 2022, the number of people experiencing food insecurity has gone up in San Diego County. There are more than 350,000 people, including just over 100,000 children, experiencing food insecurity throughout the county. When we say people experiencing food insecurity, that means that at times during the year, a given household was unable to acquire an adequate amount of food for one or more of its members because they didn't have enough money or resources. The burden of food insecurity will impact generations to come right here in our county unless we continue to do the work to give a voice to those in need of the most basic human right: nutritious food. View the interactive map to learn more about the research: https://bit.ly/3wroSKx. #nonprofit #hungerrelief #data #endhunger

You're absolutely right. According to the USDA, 47.4 million people in the U.S. experienced food insecurity in 2023. That's a staggering number, and it represents a significant increase from previous years. It's a stark reminder that hunger is a persistent problem in our country, and it's one that we need to address with urgency and compassion. It's important to remember that behind these statistics are real people – families, children, seniors – who struggle to put food on the table. simplest of days food, medication costs rise and fixed incomes. Food insecurity has a devastating impact on individuals and communities, affecting physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. The reasons for food insecurity are complex and multifaceted, including poverty, unemployment, lack of affordable housing, and systemic inequities. Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach that tackles these root causes. There are many organizations working to combat hunger and food insecurity, including food banks, community gardens, and advocacy groups. We can all do our part to support these efforts by volunteering our time, donating food or money, and raising awareness about this critical issue. Thank you for bringing this important topic to any place attention-getting. It's crucial that we keep the conversation going and work together to find solutions to ensure that everyone has access to the nourishment they need to thrive. Thanks again for reading and helping when you can. I'm proud of us. 🍇🍈🍉🍊🍋🍌🍍🥭🥝🫐🍓🍒🍑🍐🍏🍎🍅🫒🥥🥑🍆🥔🥕🌽🍄🧅🧄🥦🥬🥒🫑🌶🥜🫘🌰🫚🫛🍞🥐🥖🍗🍖🧀🧇🥞🥨🫓🥩🥩🥓🍔🍟🍟🌭🥪🌮🍲🥘🍳🥚🧆🥙🫔🌯🫕🥣🥗🍿🧈🧂🥫🍱🍢🍠🍝🍜🍛🍚🍘🍣🦪🍤🍥🥮🍡🥟🥠🍰🎂🍪🍩🍨🍧🍦🥡🧁🥧🍫🍬🍭🍮🍯🍼🫖☕️🥛🍹🧃🫙🍽🥤🫗🥃🍽🍽🍽🍽 foodstuffs for all!

My boss is a single mother running from domestic violence. I feel compelled to shed light on how the charitable food system contributes to the ongoing cycle of hunger in her world. Some Awful Monday Facts: Pennsylvania has 13 of the top 300 food banks in the country bringing in a total revenue of $492 MILLION dollars in 2023 according to Food Bank News. Thanks Scott Carter for bringing this to my attention. *Yet, a month ago, a leader in Pennsylvania's food banking community stated in writing that the Feeding America food banks in PA are more accountable to Feeding America. This raises the question: who holds accountability to our taxpayers, local food pantries, farmers, and those facing food insecurity? *Hunger remains a pressing issue. *Small family farms continue to shut down across our state. *Food pantries in Northeast Pennsylvania saw their deliveries slashed by 50%. *Feeding America mandates that member agencies (food pantries) report the pounds of food sourced without assistance from the food bank. Consequently, food banks claim this on their records, which raises concerns about transparency. *Many food banks pay substantial salaries to their CEOs. Our local food bank, serving 356 member agencies, had a revenue of $58 million. Imagine if we divided that amount equally: each partner could receive $163,000 to reinvest in their local economy. While some of this revenue is inflated due to food banks assigning a dollar value to donated products (another questionable practice), even if food pantries received $50,000 per year, it could significantly alter the narrative of hunger relief. April Niver imagine what we can do with nearly $500 MILLION for economic development with our farmers in PA? It would mean nourishing food for everyone in PA at an affordable and accessible rate. We would change the food system for the greater good. #FoodDignity #EconomicDevelopment #NutritionEconomics #FoodSustainability #SystemChange

#aquacares National Food Bank Week, held during the second week of October, is not only a week-long food drive but also a time to raise awareness of the narrow line between a full cupboard and an empty one. Aqua partners with All Faiths Food Bank and the Food Bank of Manatee to help stop childhood hunger. For children, food insecurity is particularly devastating. Not having enough healthy food can have serious implications for a child’s physical and mental health, academic achievement, and future economic prosperity. Aqua is not just a partner, but a leader in the fight against childhood hunger. Our goal is to make a sustainable impact on children's lives, ensuring that hunger is not another obstacle they have to overcome while striving for a safe and happy home. Support the Manatee Food Bank https://lnkd.in/d4NwrAs5 Support All Faiths Food Bank https://lnkd.in/gadPafnk @mealsonwheelsplus @allfaithsfoodbank

🌟 Understanding the depth of food insecurity is the first step towards creating meaningful change.

In 2023, The Food Bank shared 26.5 million pounds of food to tens of thousands of neighbors across our 32-county service area. According to a current study by Feeding America, 1 in 7 people - 1 in 5 children - in Missouri are food insecure. Based on more recent local data, that number is even higher. With rising food and transportation costs, serving more people with less is challenging. But thanks to our incredible supporters, partners, donors and volunteers, we've been able to adapt and continue sharing food at no cost and working to boost long-term food security in 2024 and beyond. Check out our 2023 Accomplishments report here to learn more: https://buff.ly/4f6gWib

Food insecurity affects every community in the U.S. Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study is a powerful tool to understand local impact and take action. We can leverage this data to address factors impacting food insecurity and unite to ensure everyone has access to the food and resources we all need to thrive. Some key findings from our most recent study include: 🔸 Food insecurity impacts communities in every county, parish, and congressional district in the U.S. 🔸 Child food insecurity rates can reach almost 50% in some counties. 🔸 Eight out of 10 high food insecurity counties are in the South, indicating regional disparities. 🔸 Rural counties disproportionately experience high levels of food insecurity compared to urban areas. Visit https://lnkd.in/ehTE8Qy4 to learn how food insecurity impacts your community. This study is powered by generous donations from NielsenIQ (NIQ) and Conagra Brands Foundation

Yesterday, the Research and Innovation team at Feeding America released Map the Meal Gap, our annual study on local food insecurity. And the news is sobering. Food insecurity affects every community in the U.S. Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study is a powerful tool to understand local impact and take action. We can leverage this data to address factors impacting food insecurity and unite to ensure everyone has access to the food and resources we all need to thrive. Some key findings from our most recent study include: 🔸 Food insecurity impacts communities in every county, parish, and congressional district in the U.S. 🔸 Child food insecurity rates can reach almost 50% in some counties. 🔸 Eight out of 10 high food insecurity counties are in the South, indicating regional disparities. 🔸 Rural counties disproportionately experience high levels of food insecurity compared to urban areas. With this in mind, it is critical that we recognize that the numbers only tell us one part of the story. Each data point - each of the 44 million individuals experiencing food insecurity - represents real people struggling. By illuminating the scope of the problem in your hometown, we hope that it will raise awareness and drive you to ask questions. Why does one of the wealthiest nations in the world have one in six people experiencing food insecurity? How is it that during a global pandemic there were fewer people experiencing food insecurity then there are now? Who are the people you interact with day-to-day that may be struggling to put food on the table? And perhaps most importantly, what can you do to change things? To understand what food insecurity and meal costs look like in your community, visit https://lnkd.in/dzrsVN2F. #FeedingAmerica #EndingHunger #MaptheMealGap

On Wednesday, Feeding America's Research & Innovation department released our annual Map the Meal Gap study. Food insecurity exists in every county, parish and congressional district in this nation, but it isn’t experienced equally. Food insecurity levels vary across regions, influenced by factors like unemployment and poverty rates as well as policies and practices rooted in history that continue to hold people back today. Eight out of 10 counties with the highest rate of food insecurity are in the South. Rural counties disproportionately experience high levels of food insecurity compared to urban areas. And racial disparities persist, with significant variations in food insecurity rates across different racial and ethnic groups and geographic locations.  You can explore the data in your community at map.feedingamerica.org. I encourage you to learn about the impact of hunger in your community. Spark conversations around the systemic factors that drive food insecurity then join the movement to end hunger through your local foodbank like the ones in the communities I've called home: Mississippi Food Network: https://www.msfoodnet.org/ Community Foodbank of Central Alabama: https://feedingal.org/ Mid-Ohio Food Collective: https://mofc.org/ Chicago Food Depository: https://lnkd.in/gbJeEiKg Help us create a future where we all have access to the food and resources we need to thrive. #EndHunger

New Feeding America Data on Food Insecurity – Some Key Takeaways: Nearly 50% of people facing hunger are unlikely to qualify for SNAP The national food budget shortfall swells to a record high of $33.1 billion, a 43% increase The national average cost per meal rises to $3.99 in 2022 - Individuals who were food secure reported spending an average of $3.99 per meal, totaling $83.79 per week or $363.09 per month. Even after adjusting for annual average inflation, the national average cost per meal increased by nearly 3% compared to the previous year, reaching its highest point in the last two decades. To provide context, this reported amount is 1.6 times as high as the average individual cost of the Thrifty Food Plan ($52.70 per week or $228.50 per month as of December 2022), which serves as the basis for calculating the maximum SNAP benefit allotments by the USDA.