Food Bank of the Albemarle announced today that new figures from Feeding America’s Annual Map the Meal Gap study show that food insecurity has surged across northeastern North Carolina.
Food Insecurity Across Northeastern NC
Child food insecurity affects every county in the United States, with rates reaching almost 50% in some areas, according to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study. At the local level, Map the Meal Gap finds 13,920 children (1in 4) are food insecure in our region. The overall number of food-insecure neighbors has risen from 43,000 to 46,440 (1 in 6).
Food Bank of the Albemarle is part of the Feeding America nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, 22 statewide food bank associations and 60,000 agency partners, food pantries and meal programs.
Increases in Food Insecurity
Map the Meal Gap, now in its 15th year, is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district.The study builds upon USDA’s most recent report of national and state data, which showed 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the highest rate in more than a decade. Map the Meal Gap emphasizes the need for the public to join the movement to end hunger.
“Leveraging the data in this year’s study will help us address challenges shared with us by people facing hunger and identify local ways to support our community,” said Liz Reasoner, Executive Director of Food Bank of the Albemarle. “Hunger remains an urgent crisis across the 15 counties we serve in Northeastern NC. When we listen to our neighbors facing hunger and use the study’s findings, we can unite in our efforts to create a future where everyone has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.”
Key findings of Map the Meal Gap include:
- Food insecurity in our region has increased from 43,630 to 46,440 neighbors (15.7% of the population).
Food Insecurity in Food Bank of the Albemarle’s Service Area
- 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.
For more information on hunger in northeastern NC and how you can make a difference today, visit the Food Bank’s website at: www.afoodbank.org
The Map the Meal Gap studyis supported by Conagra Brands Foundation, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, and NielsenIQ/NIQ. Additional key takeaways from the report can be found on the Map the Meal Gap website along with an interactive map that details food insecurity by geography, income, race and ethnicity.
Methodology:
Map the Meal Gap uses publicly available data from USDA Economic Research Service, U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate local food insecurity at the county, congressional district and state levels. The study also estimates local meal costs and food budget shortfalls using food price data from NIQ, based on USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan, and grocery sales tax data for every county and state in the country.
To learn how food insecurity impacts your community, visit FeedingAmerica.org/MaptheMealGap. For more information about Food Bank of the Albemarle and how to help end hunger in Northeastern North Carolina, visit www.afoodbank.org
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About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.
