(WSIL) -- Feeding America's latest Map the Meal Gap study revealed a significant increase in food insecurity at both national and local levels. In southeast Missouri, 22.4% of children live in food-insecure households, while overall food insecurity has risen to 17.9%.
“The data from Map the Meal Gap confirms what we, and our network of partners, see every day: More people in southeast Missouri need food assistance,� said Joey Keys, chief executive officer of Southeast Missouri Food Bank. “We serve the most food- insecure region in Missouri, with some of the highest rates of hunger nationally. But beyond the numbers, we see the faces of families, children, and seniors at our distributions who are deeply grateful for the food they receive. With rising food prices, many of our neighbors are struggling, and we remain committed to the fight against hunger.�
The report highlighted that child food insecurity is particularly severe, reaching 33.2% in Pemiscot County, the highest in Missouri. Keys emphasized the importance of nutritious food for children and detailed programs like Backpacks for Friday and A Better Childhood Mobile Pantries.
“Childhood hunger is one of the areas we really focus on,� Keys said. “We know how important access to nutritious food is for growing children. During the school year, our Backpacks for Friday program provides more than 1,100 students with food for the weekend. We also offer A Better Childhood (ABC) Mobile Pantries for students and their families, ensuring children have access to healthy food all year.�
Trinity, a mother of three, shared her struggles despite her husband's employment and their denial of SNAP benefits, the SEMO Food Bank stated in a report.
“I know things you do to save money when you go grocery shopping,� Trinity said, adding that she still struggles to buy enough food for her family. “We just mainly buy for the kids; we don't get enough for us anymore because it’s just so expensive.�
Map the Meal Gap, now in its 15th year, is the only national study providing local estimates of food insecurity. It reported that Missouri's food insecurity ranges from 23.1% in Wayne County to 13.7% in Ste. Genevieve County.
"We know how important our work is to so many people across our region," Keys said. "We want to ensure our neighbors have the food they need to thrive, but we also want to make sure they are supported in other ways. We work closely with our partners and other organizations to make sure these needs are being met. We’re blessed with donors and volunteers who make this possible.�
The report calls for collective action to end hunger and encourages community involvement through donations, volunteering, or advocacy at .
Here is a breakdown per county of food insecurity rates in southeast Missouri...
