Statement on the 2022 USDA Household Food Security Report
Michael Halligan
CEO
God’s Pantry Food Bank
The recently released report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service paints a sobering picture of food insecurity in the United States in 2022. The data reveals a significant increase in food insecurity, affecting millions of individuals, including children. It is heartbreaking to see that in 2022, 44 million individuals, among them 13 million children, were living in food-insecure households, a 31% increase over the previous year andthe largest one-year increase in food insecurity since 2008.
These statistics remind us that the issue of hunger is not going away, and it is vital that welcome together as a community and as a nation to address this crisis. The numbers in this report are not just data points; they represent individuals and families who are struggling to put foodon their tables. The time for action is now, and we must work collectively to ensure that no one in our great nation goes hungry because food is an essential source for growth, for strength,and for life.
The USDA's report highlights the dire need for a coordinated and comprehensive approach to address food insecurity in the United States. We call upon Congress to keep the government open and pass strong hunger relief legislation. These bills should include a Farm Bill that invests in nutrition programs, especially programs like TEFAP, which moves healthy food from farms to food banks, and strengthen SNAP to empower those facing food insecurity with greater purchasing power. Hunger relief organizations like God's Pantry Food Bank cannot tackle this issue alone, and we need the support and collaboration of our government, communities, and individuals to make a lasting impact.
At God’s Pantry Food Bank, our vision is to ensure a nourished life for every Kentuckian, and our mission is to reduce hunger by working together to feed Kentucky communities. In the fiscal year 2023, we distributed 43 million pounds of food, including 17 million pounds of fresh produce, to those in need across 50 counties in Central and Eastern Kentucky in collaboration with more than 500 food pantries and meal programs. This was enough food to provide nearly 100,000 meals every single day, but given this new data, it is not enough.
Let us remember that a nourished life for every Kentuckian is not just a vision but a commitment. Together, we can make it a reality because ending hunger takes us all.
