Annual Map the Meal Gap Study Shows Increasing Food Insecurity for Georgia Families
May 24 2024 - 7:32AM
Business Wire
Georgia children are at high risk, with 1 in 5
facing hunger
Feeding America has released its annual Map the Meal Gap study,
which monitors food insecurity across the nation. Food insecurity
impacts communities in every county, parish, and congressional
district in the U.S. According to this year’s results, 1 in 5
Georgia children are facing hunger, an increase from 1 in 8
last year.
The study also showed nearly 50% of people facing hunger may not
qualify for SNAP benefits due to income thresholds. In Georgia, the
percentage is even higher, with 68% being above the threshold for
SNAP. The study’s results come as at-risk Georgia children face the
critical summer months when they aren’t in school and lack access
to school feeding programs.
“This year’s study confirms what we see every day at the Food
Bank -- more and more kids and families face food insecurity for a
number of reasons, including elevated food costs, access to healthy
foods, and more,” said Kyle Waide, President & CEO of the
Atlanta Community Food Bank. “As we enter the summer months, the
need is even greater, and we look to our community to help fill the
gap, so no Georgia child goes hungry.”
For families looking to find their closest feeding site, text
“FINDFOOD” or “COMIDA” to 888-976-2232, or visit the Atlanta
Community Food Bank here to use the interactive map to locate food
pantries nearby.
The Atlanta Community Food Bank is the Southeast's largest food
bank and each month, the Food Bank distributes an average of 11
million pounds of food, or approximately 9 million+ meals. The
organization works with nearly 700 nonprofit partners to help fight
food insecurity in the communities they serve.
For more information about the Atlanta Community Food Bank
including how you can help, visit www.acfb.org or follow them on
Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about Map the Meal Gap, visit
https://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/press-room/Map-the-Meal-Gap-2024.
About Atlanta Community Food
Bank
The Atlanta Community Food Bank works to end hunger with the
food, people, and big ideas needed to ensure our neighbors have the
nourishment to lead healthy and productive lives. Far too many
people in our own community experience hunger every day. Through
nearly 700 community-based, nonprofit partners in 29 counties, we
help thousands of families, children, and seniors get healthy food
every year. Our goal is that all hungry people across metro Atlanta
and north Georgia will have access to the nutritious meals they
need when they need them. It takes the power of our whole community
to make that possible. In 2023, the Atlanta Community Food Bank
distributed its one billionth meal. Join us at ACFB.org.
About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in
the United States. As a network of more than 200 food banks, 21
statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 agency partners,
including food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.2
billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year.
Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and
improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention
to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food
insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that
protects people from going hungry. Visit www.FeedingAmerica.org,
find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
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