While data points can only tell a fraction of a story, numbers from calendar year 2023 speak loudly to the state of food insecurity in the communities we serve. Last year, Food Bank of the Rockies distributed enough food to provide the daily equivalent of more than 196,000 meals. That’s an 8% increase over the previous year and the highest amount we’ve distributed since 2021, at the height of the pandemic.
This increase in distributed food mirrors what we’re seeing nationally. In October, the USDA released its annual study measuring food security in the U.S. and revealed that food insecurity across the nation increased sharply in 2022.
One of the biggest takeaways was that in 2022, an estimated 44 million people (1 in 7) were living in food insecure households, including 13 million children (1 in 5). This is the highest rate of food insecurity since 2014, and the largest one-year increase since 2008.
From Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, the network of 200 food banks of which Food Bank of the Rockies is a part: “This news is heartbreaking, but sadly, it is not surprising. People facing hunger have shared with us that the end of pandemic-era relief efforts and the high cost of food have impacted their ability to make ends meet. Food banks have been reporting that they are operating under increasing pressure from both sides: the growing number of people experiencing food insecurity and a diminished supply of nutritious food to distribute. Food donations and fundraising have decreased since the pandemic, and while we know the USDA has been working to help, it simply has not been enough.”
We hear every day from our neighbors about the hardships of putting nutritious food on the table on top of paying the bills, buying growing kids clothing and shoes, and all the other things all of us need to not just survive, but to truly live. The good news is: You can help. By becoming a monthly donor, you’ll help ensure the Food Bank has the funds necessary to continue to show up for our communities throughout the year. Even a one-time donation or volunteer shift can make a huge difference in the life of someone experiencing hunger. Whatever and however you donate, thank you. We can only support our neighbors thanks to you.
