Feeding America is committed to realizing an America where no one is hungry. In our journey to end hunger, we work to consistently center people facing hunger and any implications for them in our statements and actions. In doing so, we ground ourselves in data and seek to understand the impact, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
There is compelling data that supports our belief that the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will have deep implications for hundreds of thousands of women and pregnant people—particularly people of color and people with low income—as well as children and families. The data clearly demonstrates these individuals and families will be significantly more likely to remain in poverty or fall below the poverty line. It stands to reason then that the ruling will stretch already limited budgets, in the middle of historic inflationary pressures, resulting in more economic hardship and increased reliance on federal nutrition safety net programs, which will not be enough to cover the costs of food for those in need.
Consistent access to food is already difficult. The reality is, more than 38 million people, including nearly 12 million children, were food insecure in 2020. Access to food becomes even more difficult when considering race, ethnicity, gender and geography, among other factors. USDA data shows Black people are 3.2 times and Latinos are 2.5 times more likely to live in households that are food insecure compared to white individuals. The same data suggests Native Americans are about 3 times more likely to be food insecure, though other sources suggest the disparities are much greater. Food insecurity varies greatly among Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, with some households experiencing higher rates of food insecurity.
We aspire for an America where no one is hungry. We aspire to come together with partners and supporters across the country who agree that it is unacceptable for families to not know where their next meal comes from, for children to have to go to school on an empty stomach and for parents to have to choose between paying the rent or feeding their children. We aspire for all our neighbors to have access to the food and resources they need to not just survive, but to thrive. We will move forward on our journey to make that aspiration a reality.
Contact
Please contact one of our media representatives or call 800-771-2303
About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.3 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.
