More than 53 million Americans turned to food banks, pantries, and meal programs last year, one-third more than before the pandemic, said Feeding America, a network of food banks and hunger relief groups, on Wednesday. “While we work toward reducing food insecurity for all in the long term, we cannot forget that one out of every six of our neighbors needs help right now,” said chief executive Claire Babineaux-Fontenot.
Before the pandemic, more than 40 million people went to food banks and pantries. The figure jumped to more than 60 million in 2020, when jobless rates soared and food insecurity increased. Feeding America estimated food bank visits from data collected by the Urban Institute and the Census Bureau in nationwide surveys.
“Now in the third year of the pandemic, there are new and pressing challenges — including war abroad and inflation and higher costs of food, gas, and other necessities — which are impacting the ability of individuals and families, especially with lower incomes, to make ends meet,” said Feeding America in its Charitable Food Participation Estimate report.