A Growing Concern about Food Insecurity
Did you know?
· More than 493,000 people in Connecticut – nearly 14 percent of the population – are food insecure, meaning that they do not always know where they will find their next meal.
· According to new research released by Feeding America, the average food – insecure resident in our region is falling more than $15 short on their weekly food budget.
· “Food insecurity is one of the leading public health challenges in the United States.” (Dr. Craig Gundersen)
· Food insecurity is experienced by nearly 49 million people nationwide.
· In the greater Hartford area, the cost of an average meal is $2.72, twenty cents higher than the national average.
· With recent threats to cut federal safety net programs like SNAP and WIC, there is potential for an even wider gap in emergency food service.
What can be done?
· We must remind our elected representatives that to ensure a health community, we must protect emergency food programs, while working to reduce the overall need.
· Visit Foodshare’s new Action Center – www.foodshare.org to learn how you can make a difference.
