In 2020, more than 38 million people in the United States experienced hunger, including 12 million children due to the pandemic and widespread unemployment. It is a problem for people you see every day and it affects people you know.
As Feeding America’s landmark Map the Meal Gap research shows, hunger exists everywhere—in every county and every community across the United States. The USDA refers to people facing hunger as “food insecure,” which means they don’t have regular access to enough food for a healthy life. Our clients are children, families, individuals, employees, veterans, students and seniors residing in urban, suburban and rural areas across the U.S.
Millions of people are still being forced to make tough choices about what they can and cannot afford, leading to inadequate nutrition and hunger. At the same time, federal nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and WIC face funding cuts that threaten to drastically weaken the safety-net that protects families from hunger during difficult economic times.
At Feeding America, our mission is to advance change in America by ensuring equitable access to nutritious food for all in partnership with food banks, policymakers, supporters, and the communities we serve. Each day, we strive to feed more people and develop pathways for a food-secure future. By working to provide food security for all people in America, our network is strengthening communities, supporting a healthy workforce and helping to develop the minds of our future leaders. The Feeding America network secures and provides food to families experiencing hunger; operates programs that promote self-sufficiency among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry.
As one of the wealthiest nations in the world, there is no reason that anyone should go without basic necessities such as food. The nation’s economic growth depends on the well-being of its citizens. If we are to live in a country that is healthy and prosperous, it must be the responsibility of all individuals, businesses and our government to help our struggling neighbors. Together, we can ensure people get the food they need to lead an active, healthy life today and build a more food-secure future for themselves and their families.
