Hunger and Poverty

Hunger is a problem that most often affects low-income families, because living in poverty means that people are often going without basic needs such as food, clothing, adequate shelter and transportation. Over 38 million, or 12% of all Americans live in poverty, according to 2018 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 15 million of those were children.

Food Insecurity

Every year, millions of Americans are impacted by hunger and food insecurity. Experiencing food insecurity at a young age can lead to lasting health concerns - especially if families facing hunger are forced to choose between spending money on food or on rent or medical care.

In the wake of the pandemic, food insecurity is rising among American children. Many parents and guardians are losing their jobs and consequently are struggling to feed their kids. Children are highly vulnerable to even short periods of hunger and malnutrition—potentially affecting them for their whole life.

Here are some facts on how hunger and food insecurity can affect families:

• The USDA defines "food insecurity" as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for all household members. In 2017, an estimated 15 million households were food insecure. 

• 1 in 6 American children may not know where their next meal is coming from.

• 22 million children in America rely on the free or reduced-price lunch they receive at school, but as many as 3 million children still aren't getting the breakfast they need.

• Children who experience food insecurity are at a higher risk of struggling with anxiety or depression, developing asthma, and performing poorly in school or physical activities.