Albemarle Food Bank. [YMCA at the Pines photo]
The Albemarle Food Bank announced new numbers from Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study show food insecurity is skyrocketing across Northeast North Carolina.
Map the Meal Gap is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district. The study is the USDA’s latest compilation of national and state data showing food insecurity will rise sharply in 2022 amid historic food price increases and the expiration of many pandemic-era programs. Based on the report. The Meal Gap Map highlights the urgent need for action from all of us.
“Insights gleaned from the Map the Meal Gap survey show that the number of neighbors in need of assistance in our service area is increasing,” said Liz Reasoner, Albemarle’s executive director of food banks. It shows,” he said. “Rising food prices and rising costs for housing, utilities, essential medicines, and transportation all combine to create incredible challenges for our neighbors. No one should go hungry, we need to come together This will ensure that everyone is fed.”
Key findings from Map the Meal Gap include:
Food insecurity in our region increased from 36,000 neighbors to 43,630 (14.7% of the population).
Food insecurity by geography:
Food insecurity affects communities in every county, parish, and congressional district in Albemarle Food Bank of America’s (FBA) 15-county service area, which covers 9,000 square miles of rural land. Estimated levels of food insecurity vary by region and are influenced by factors such as unemployment and poverty rates, as well as historically rooted policies and practices that continue to hold people back today. Overall, one in seven people in northeastern North Carolina is food insecure. One in four children is food insecure. Food insecurity in Northeast North Carolina ranges from a low of 12% in Camden County to 21.6% in Hyde County. Every county has food insecure neighbors. Child food insecurity is highest in rural Hyde County at 40.6% (1 in 2 children).
Income and food expenses:
Here in North Carolina, more than 35% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP benefits. The national food budget shortfall, which reflects the additional funding food insecure people report they need to cover their food needs, increased nearly 43% from a year ago to a record $33.1 billion. This works out to an average of $24.73 less per person per week for her neighbors in FBA’s service area.
Meals and food expenses:
In FBA’s service area, the average estimated cost per meal is $3.91, reflecting the growing need for food pantry services seen at the Albemarle Food Bank.
Call to action:
Data on hunger in our region gives us the tools we need to fight hunger and identify areas that may be underserved. You can be part of the solution to ending hunger through donations, volunteering, and advocacy.
For more information about hunger in Northeast North Carolina and how you can make a difference today, visit the Food Bank’s website at www.afoodbank.org.
The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by the Conagra Brands Foundation and NielsenIQ/NIQ. Other key takeaways from the report can be found on the Map the Meal Gap website, along with an interactive map detailing food insecurity by geography, income, race, and ethnicity.
methodology:
Map the Meal Gap uses publicly available data from the USDA ERS, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate local food insecurity at the county, congressional district, and state levels. The study also uses NIQ food price data from the USDA’s Thrifty Food Program and food sales tax data for every county and state in the country to estimate regional food costs and food budget deficits. Masu.
To learn more about how food insecurity impacts your community, visit FeedingAmerica.org/MaptheMealGap. For more information about Albemarle Food Bank and how you can help end hunger in Northeast North Carolina, visit www.afoodbank.org.
