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 in the Food Bank of the Albemarle’s service area and unite to ensure everyone has access to the food and resources we all need to thrive.
- Many of us have experienced hunger or know someone who has.
- The Map the Meal Gap study is an important tool to rally our nation around a shared understanding of hunger in America.
- When we listen to our neighbors facing hunger and understand how hunger shows up locally, we can better invest in our communities, drive policy change, and more, to end hunger in northeastern North Carolina and across this nation.
You can view a full interactive map of the Meal Gap study here.
Map the Meal Gap Key Findings
Food Insecurity by Geography:
Food insecurity in our region has increased from 43,630 to 46,440 neighbors (15.7% of the population).
Food Insecurity by Geography:
- Food insecurity impacts communities in every county, parish, and congressional district in the U.S. Food Bank of the Albemarle’s (FBA) 15-county service area covers 9,000 sq. miles of rural land.
- Estimated food insecurity levels vary across regions, influenced by factors like unemployment and poverty rates as well as policies and practices rooted in history that continue to hold people back today.
- Overall, 1 in 6 people in northeastern NC are food insecure.
- 1 in 4 children are food insecure.
- In northeastern NC, food insecurity ranges from a low of 11.7% in Camden County to 20.9% in Washington County. Every county has food-insecure neighbors.
- Child food insecurity is highest at 35.8% in rural Hyde County (1 in 3 children).
Income and Food Spending:
- Here in NC, more than 35% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP benefits.
- The national food budget shortfall, which reflects the extra money that people who are food insecure report needing to cover their food needs, has hit a record high of $33.1 billion, up nearly 43% from the previous year. This translates to a $ 21.87-a-week shortfall per person, on average, for the neighbors in FBA’s service area.
Food Cost and Meal Prices:
- In FBA’s service area, the average estimated cost per meal is $3.50, which reflects the consistent need that we see at Food Bank of the Albemarle for food pantry services.
Call to Action: Having the data on hunger in our region gives us the tools needed to help fight hunger, and identify those areas of population that may be underserved. You can be part of the solution to end hunger through financial donations, volunteering, and advocacy.
Child Food Insecurity Percentage by County:
| Beaufort County | 26.2% |
| Bertie County | 32.6% |
| Camden County | 13.0% |
| Chowan County | 30.2% |
| Currituck County | 11.9% |
| Dare County | 15.0% |
| Gates County | 20.1% |
| Hertford County | 33.0% |
| Hyde County | 27.3% |
| Martin County | 32.4% |
| Northampton County | 33.8% |
| Pasquotank County | 21.5% |
| Perquimans County | 24.0% |
| Tyrrell County | 31.1% |
| Washington County | 35.8% |
Food Insecurity (Overall) Percentage by County (highest to lowest):
| Beaufort County | 16.9% |
| Bertie County | 17.9% |
| Camden County | 11.7% |
| Chowan County | 17.1% |
| Currituck County | 12.0% |
| Dare County | 12.8% |
| Gates County | 13.8% |
| Hertford County | 17.9% |
| Hyde County | 19.9% |
| Martin County | 17.9% |
| Northampton County | 17.2% |
| Pasquotank County | 14.2% |
| Perquimans County | 16.6% |
| Tyrrell County | 18.3% |
| Washington County | 20.9% |
Income and Food Spending:
- Here in NC, the percentage is more than 35% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP benefits.
- The national food budget shortfall, which reflects the extra money that people who are food insecure report needing to cover their food needs, has hit a record high of $33.1 billion, up nearly 43% from the previous year.
This translates to $21.87 a week per person, on average, for the neighbors in our service area.
Food Costs and Meal Prices:
- In FBA’s service area, the average cost per meal is $3.50, which reflects the growing need we see at Food Bank of the Albemarle for food pantry services.
Having the data on hunger in our region gives us the tools needed to help fight hunger, and identify those areas of population that may be underserved. With your help, we can provide the food and nutrition that our neighbors need!
