How food insecurity is impacting millions in the U.S.

Hunger can affect any one of us with a change of circumstances. A sudden job loss, a health emergency, or rising costs can lead to dire financial straits for anyone. But the latest food insecurity data paints an increasingly alarming picture.

A recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023 — up from 44 million individuals and 13 million children in 2022. Feeding America’s 2024 Map the Meal Gap study, based on 2022 data, illustrates how food insecurity shows up in local and rural communities across the country and disproportionately impacts some communities. The data made clear that in every county and congressional district, there are individuals and families who can’t afford the food they need to thrive. In some counties, almost half of all children experience food insecurity. In Missouri, food insecurity jumped to 924,180 individuals in 2023, a 29% increase from the previous year. Food insecurity rates often are higher in rural communities like those served by Southeast Missouri Food Bank. The food bank’s 16-county service area includes seven of the 10 most food insecure counties in the state.

At a resource fair and food distribution hosted by the food bank earlier this month, it became clear that the high costs of necessities are taking a toll on neighbors. Trinity, a mother of three boys, gave up working after having her third child because child care was too expensive. Her husband works, but his salary doesn’t cover all their needs. Mike was at a food distribution for the first time. He’d worked in construction most of his life until he suffered a heart attack. His wife also has health issues, and medical bills wiped out all they had saved.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are long-standing federal nutrition programs that work together to address hunger in our communities. The programs serve as vital lifelines for food banks, farmers and families.

TEFAP is a cornerstone of the charitable food sector’s food supply. The program moves food from U.S. farmers and producers to food banks to families facing hunger. This partnership bolsters our agricultural economy and provides food banks with a reliable source of nutritious foods. However, current funding for the program is woefully insufficient to meet rising needs.

SNAP, our nation’s most effective food assistance program, offers targeted short-term assistance to increase working families’ purchasing power at grocery stores. The program helps bridge meal gaps for people — including children, seniors and people with disabilities. However, almost 50% of people facing hunger earn too much to qualify for SNAP, according to Map the Meal Gap. This is one of the largest gaps between food insecurity and program eligibility in years.

Food insecurity is an urgent issue that Southeast Missouri Food Bank and other hunger-relief organizations are tirelessly working to address, but strengthening federal nutrition programs is critical to ending hunger. We need leaders in Congress to advance a bipartisan farm bill that doubles investments in TEFAP and strengthens SNAP. A strong farm bill can help mitigate food insecurity, support our farmers and food banks and help families in across southeast Missouri access the nutritious food they need to thrive.

While there are lots of complex issues to work out in Congress, hunger shouldn’t be one of them. We have local solutions that work, and food banks across the country are working to take care of our communities. What we need is for Congress to pass a farm bill that helps families and farmers.

Joey Keys is the chief executive officer of Southeast Missouri Food Bank.