After pandemic-era programs expired and food prices soared due to record inflation, Texas is the most underserved state in the nation, according to a national survey released Wednesday by Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. It is ranked as one of the most insecure states.
At its annual Mayor’s Day event Wednesday, the North Texas Food Bank announced the latest insights from its “Map the Meal Gap” study covering 2022 data that reveals the harsh realities of the Lone Star State. It was revealed.
The North Texas Food Bank, a Feeding America Partner Food Bank, sources, purchases, packs and distributes food through 500 partners across 13 counties in the region.
The annual Mayor’s Day event allows city leaders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to learn more about food insecurity and get proactive by volunteering at the food bank’s headquarters in Plano.
Texas faces a food insecurity rate of 16.4%, up from 13.7% in 2021. According to Feeding America, food insecurity is the result of economic disparity, and the fact that households don’t earn enough to meet their basic food needs on a regular basis can lead to people skipping meals or going hungry. It is the cause of this.
After decades of rapid population growth, Texas now has the highest number of food insecure residents, more than 4.9 million, surpassing California for the first time.
One in three food insecure Texans is a child.
“Families with children are typically disproportionately affected because they have more mouths to feed,” said Trisha Cunningham, president and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. Stated.
Cunningham said the latest Meal Gap Survey, which provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs, confirmed much of what Hunger Fighters of North Texas already knew.
The hunger crisis is worsening, she said.
“Texas prides itself on being bigger in many ways, so leading the nation in food insecurity is not just a badge of honor that Texas should wear proudly,” Cunningham said in an interview. . Dallas Morning News.
The North Texas Food Bank’s 13-county region has the fourth-highest number of food-insecure residents in the nation, behind Los Angeles, New York City and Houston.
Cunningham said North Texas residents have been doing their best to weather the perfect storm of rising inflation and declining incomes and government support.
“We know that our neighbors in every zip code have had to make those tough choices every day,” she says. “Are they buying groceries or paying for child care or gas? Their standard of living didn’t change. What changed is that the cost of basic needs has used up any sort of buffer they had. And now they’re being forced to make choices they’ve never had to make before.”
Despite its strong food network, North Texas still struggles to fill a gap of 146 million meals per year, according to the study.
Rep. Collin Allred, who represents part of the North Texas Food Bank’s jurisdiction, said in a statement that no family should have to wonder where they’re going to get their next meal.
“Unfortunately, more than 777,000 people in North Texas face hunger. We must ensure that the North Texas Food Bank can meet these needs,” said Supporter of Federal Food Assistance Programs. said Mr. Allred. “Let’s keep working to reduce costs and ensure Texas’ economy thrives for all Texans.”
More than half of North Texas Food Bank’s food insecure population lives in Dallas County, followed by Collin County with 17%, Denton County with 15%, and the remaining 10 counties with 16%.
Understanding where families facing hunger live is critical to the food bank’s work to ensure they have access to food, said Erika, the food bank’s chief external affairs officer. Mr. Yeager said.
Food banks leverage Feeding America data and the Hunger Action Map, a comprehensive report developed in collaboration with Bain Consulting, to examine local demographic information and collaborate with partners to identify high unmet needs. We are distributing food in your zip code area.
In Dallas County, 20% of people facing hunger reside in 10 South Dallas and South Dallas ZIP codes. Last year, food banks provided nearly 20 million meals to residents in these 10 zip codes through 160 feeding programs and partners.
In North Texas, black and Hispanic families saw the largest increases in security insecurity compared to white non-Hispanic households.
About 28% of Black people in North Texas are food insecure, up from 22% a year ago. About 20% of Hispanic residents are food insecure, up from 14%. About 9% of non-Hispanic white residents in North Texas are food insecure, up slightly from 7% in 2021.
Cunningham said the North Texas Food Bank network has been a steady lifeline supporting hungry families for years.
“Amid these struggles, there is a glimmer of hope,” she said. “Through the dedication and steadfast partnerships of our generous supporters, the North Texas Food Bank provided a record 144 million meals in his 2023 fiscal year. It is a testament to the power of compassion and action.”
The food bank’s strategic plan grows as it partners with more than 500 food pantries and organizations, including redistribution partners Crossroads Community Services of South Dallas and Sharing Life Community Outreach in Mesquite Responds to needs. The North Texas Food Bank serves approximately 400,000 meals each day.
“Food insecurity is evident not only in Dallas County, but also in Rockwall and Kaufman counties,” said Theresa Jackson, CEO of Sharing Life. “These are our communities, and our friends and neighbors are struggling to put food on the table every day.”
