Even as food insecurity continues to rise, the USDA has moved to terminate all future Household Food Security Reports. The announcement, which was ironically made during Hunger Action Month, is another blow to the food banks and pantries across the country that are already struggling to meet the needs of local communities due to a lack of USDA funding. Annette Hacker, chief communications and strategy officer at the Food Bank of Iowa, said the announcement is troubling news for everyone who is trying to fight food insecurity.
Erasing the report does not erase food insecurity from the 47 million people who are unsure of when they will get their next meal every day. And things won’t be getting any easier for them, as Hacker said it’s impossible to fill in the gap left by SNAP cuts without federal aid.
Food banks and pantries are already seeing the effects of growing hunger, as there are many new and unfamiliar faces walking in their doors every day.
Hacker said that helping people with food can also allow them to take care of other things that they might not be able to afford and, as a result, make progress towards getting out of rough financial times.
Fortunately, Hacker said Feeding America will still be tracking food insecurity through the annual Map the Meal Gap report.
To look into receiving or giving donations, visit foodbankiowa.org.
