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WHITE COUNTY — Child food insecurity affects every county in the United States. At the local level, Map the Meal Gap finds that 1 in 5 children in Food Finders Food Bank’s 16-county service area are experiencing food insecurity. In White County, 1 in 7, or 14.7% of children are experiencing 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 national and state data report, which showed 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the highest rate in over 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 Kier Crites Muller, President/CEO of Food Finders. “Hunger remains an urgent crisis throughout our 16-county service area. When we listen to our neighbors facing hunger and use the study’s findings, we can unite to create a future where everyone, including children, can access the nutritious food they need to thrive. This mission becomes even more critical as threats to vital social safety net programs like SNAP, TEFAP, and Medicaid could worsen food insecurity for our most vulnerable populations, particularly children who rely on these essential services,” added Crites Muller.
Food Finders is thankful to our agency partners in White County for being an essential partner in the fight against hunger. Their determination and countless volunteer hours have a tangible impact on our communities. Together, we are building a stronger community where no one goes without; the collective impact we are making would not be possible without them.
Other key findings of Map the Meal Gap include:
• Overall, food insecurity rates increased in White County, with 13.8%, or 1 in 7 residents experiencing food insecurity.
• Nationally, more than 2 out of 5 people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP benefits due to income limits. In White County, 59.6% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP.
Food Insecurity by Geography and Demographics:
• Food insecurity impacts communities in every county, parish and congressional district in the U.S. Food insecurity is experienced by people from all backgrounds and demographics, but disparities exist.
• Estimated food insecurity levels vary across the country, influenced by income-related factors, like unemployment, poverty, high cost of living, community- and health-related factors, and systemic barriers to opportunity that have created disparities in food insecurity.
• Nationwide, nearly 9 out of 10 high food insecurity counties are rural, indicating regional disparities.
• Food Finders serves communities with food insecurity ranging from 13% in Clinton County to 16.7% in Miami County.
• Food insecurity also varies for different age groups. Among children, food insecurity in Food Finders 16- county service area ranges from 14.2% in Clinton County to 23.4% in Howard County.
• In Food Finders’ 16-county service area, available data by race/ethnicity shows that 14% of white individuals, 33% of Black individuals, and 24% of Latino individuals experienced food insecurity in 2023.
The Map the Meal Gap study is 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.
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