FeedMore WNY’s Post

Another city (and state) on the Food Rescue Hero network map! Chicago Food Rescue mobilizes Chicagoans to get perfectly good food onto the tables of the community, instead of letting the food go to waste. If you're in #Chicago, download the Chicago Food Rescue app! #FoodRescue #FoodRecovery #EndHunger #EndFoodWaste

Important consideration - what is needed versus what you enjoy / prefer / like (?) to give. Full recovery will take months, if not years. Think / plan how your support can be longer-term.

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.

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

Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study is the only annual report that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district in the US. This year's study, published yesterday, shows the harsh reality that 44 million people face hunger, and that the amount of money needed to get the food families need to be food secure has reached a 20 year high. Kane County, IL, where I live outside Chicago has a rate of food insecurity of 10.2%. You can use the reporting tools here https://lnkd.in/gzdAX9UY to learn more about food insecurity where you live. Then visit https://lnkd.in/gG-MhEeR to learn what you can do and how you can help! https://lnkd.in/gR_Qz6fB

FIELD UPDATE: Greater Good Charities is now en route to Spencer, Iowa, to respond to the catastrophic flash flooding that has resulted from days of unprecedented rainfall, pushing rivers to record levels across northwest Iowa. A broken levee has forced hundreds to evacuate from their homes, and now South Dakota and Minnesota residents face similar dire circumstances. Some towns inundated with flooding have turned off power, prompting water safety concerns, sewage issues and health concerns caused by the sweltering temperatures. Our team on the ground in Spencer will assess need and assist local partners with Good Packs containing hygiene supplies, comfort items and pet essentials for displaced families. We’re also mobilizing shipments of pet food and supplies to assist animal shelters caring for lost pets and shelter pets moved out of evacuation zones. As we respond to this new dire need, we need YOU. Please donate to send aid to your neighbors impacted by severe flooding in the upper Midwest: https://hubs.ly/Q02CXD5n0 #DisasterRelief #AmplifyTheGood

Every year, Feeding America conducts an extensive report called Map the Meal Gap, collecting data on individuals in every county in the US to determine the national state of food insecurity. Data from 2022 was just released, and in Harvesters' service area, 1 in 8 people (12.4%) are experiencing food insecurity, up from 1 in 11 the previous year. For children, that number is 1 in 6. 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. You can help fight food insecurity in Harvesters—The Community Food Network’s 26 counties by: 🍽️ Giving Food 👫🏽 Giving Time 💵 Giving Money 🗣️ Giving Voice Help us devour hunger today! #harvesters #foodinsecurity #foodisahumanright #nonprofit

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

Food insecurity is a worldwide problem that manifests itself locally in all our communities. Over the past few years, Curcio Webb, LLC’s holiday donation has been made to Chef José Andrés World Central Kitchen program. The World Central Kitchen teams are first on the spot wherever hot meals and human kindness are needed. Karen McKeon volunteered for a ½ day volunteer shift Thursday, June 27th at Mercer Street Friends Food Bank. In 2021, Karen directed her Curcio Webb charitable donation to Mercer Street Friends. At the time she shared that “the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank channels 5.5 million pounds of food and groceries annually to a network of over 100 local food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, meal sites, schools, senior and disabled programs, and low-income housing sites. Our food distribution and hunger prevention programs reach over 60,000 people who face the pain and indignity of hunger.” Five point five MILLION pounds annually—how impressive is that? The day Karen volunteered at the Food Bank they needed help labeling bags for “SHUP” (their Send HUnger Packing program). SHUP is a "meal bag program that helps feed food insecure students over the weekend when they lack access to school meals." It distributes 10,000 bags a month to students in need throughout Mercer County, New Jersey. Karen, your in-the-trenches work at the Food Bank is so important. Thank you! It’s not just students in Mercer County, New Jersey who run the risk of going hungry on the weekends. Curcio Webb is going to address local food insecurity for children at our upcoming annual company meeting. Brian Pieper and his wife Katie are spearheading an opportunity for us to pack bags of food for children to eat during the weekend. They’re tapping into a local program that helps kids get meals on weekends i.e., where they are already participating in a meals-at-school program. Are there suggestions from our wider community re programs that deserve our attention? Where do you like to volunteer your time and treasure -- in order to "Send Hunger Packing"? #foodbanks #foodinsecurity #givingback

Food Insecurity Across the United States Think about donating money to help with Food Insecurity. 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. Facebook Link YouTube LinkedIn Copyright © 2024 River Bend Food Bank, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: River Bend Food Bank 4010 Kimmel Dr Davenport, IA 52802-2404