Understanding & Addressing Hunger in America: A Call to Action 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, 19-year-old Daniel found purpose in volunteering at a food pantry in Houma, LA. His story mirrors the broader challenge faced by communities across the nation. He’s one of a million or more food pantry volunteers who strive to address hunger in America one meal at a time.

Volunteers and donors – both big and small – are the frontline heroes in the fight against hunger. Their passion for helping others in need is easy enough to understand. Achieving our collective vision of a world where no one goes to bed hungry takes some understanding of the scale of the issue nationwide AND the local realities driving people in droves to grassroots food pantries just like ours.  

Hunger in America: Addressing the Food Insecurity Crisis One Community at a Time

Understanding the food insecurity crisis in its entirety is as complicated an issue as they come. And the need only grows. Local food pantries across the U.S. collectively serve millions of individuals and families every day. 

Addressing hunger in America must happen community by community. Here at the Olean Food Pantry, the good people we serve experience distinct realities daily. Poverty is real everywhere. Generational poverty is a shared experience for millions from rural Western New York to urban Los Angeles. But the faces of hunger are diverse.

It’s not as black and white as poor vs. rich or haves vs. have nots. Hunger impacts the family that lost everything in a fire. It requires direct action from the local school teacher stocking a cupboard with snacks for kids with empty cupboards at home. The laid-off hospital worker trying to feed her family and the elderly widow may struggle equally to put food on the table, although their reasons for visiting a local food pantry are quite different.     

Exploring the Realities of Food Insecurity in America

Let’s dive into the intricacies of food insecurity and supporting the war on hunger. It’s helpful to explore the shifts in hunger in America since March 2020. Since the pandemic, Olean Food Pantry has seen a 95.4% increase in clients served. Simply put, the community need has ALMOST DOUBLED! 

And while the public health threat from Covid-19 has diminished, the related economic impacts that drive hunger remain to this day in communities across the U.S. 

Food Banks Across America Serve Millions

In 2020, a staggering 60 million people in the United States sought assistance from food banks, food pantries and community food programs. This translates to 1 in every 5 people grappling with food insecurity, showcasing the immense impact on households nationwide.

And it only got worse, especially here in the greater Olean, NY area. 

As we said, here at the northernmost tip of impoverished Appalachia, the need has nearly doubled. How many people does the Olean Food Pantry serve today? From January 2022 through September 2023, OFP served more than 39,000 people – nearly 2,000 per month! 

Tracking Food Assistance in the U.S.

How do we effectively track hunger in America? It’s not as if each individual organization addressing food insecurity shares data in real time. 

We certainly collect information and data on activities at our local food pantry, but there’s no overarching governing body to which each organization reports. We must rely on a combination of nationwide organizations like Feeding America, nationwide demographic data and surveys to analyze the staggering scale of hunger. 

Feeding America distributed over six billion meals last year. Networks collaborating with organizations like the Urban Institute, the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics have estimated that some 60 million people are recipients of food assistance from charitable food programs.

The USDA’s annual household survey revealed a sobering reality — more than 38 million people, or 1 in 8, lived in food-insecure households in 2020. The report further emphasizes that 12 million of those affected are children. Food insecurity is marked by a persistent lack of access to sufficient food for a healthy and active life. 

What Do These Food Insecurity Numbers Mean?

It’s essential to address the difference in numbers between those visiting food banks and the total number facing hunger. While such a high percentage of Americans receive assistance from local food pantries and other organizations, even more are hesitant to seek help.

Why? Well, there’s a stigma about food insecurity associated with poverty. Many report not wanting to be seen at their local food pantry receiving what others might judge as “a free handout.” Others may underestimate their need or selflessly believe others need food assistance much more. Still others require nutrition education and other resources to improve their lives.

Local food pantries, supported by generous donors, have effectively reduced the number of households considered food insecure. This success is attributed to the adaptability of food banks, increased donations and bipartisan support for federal hunger programs.

Yet so much more work remains to end hunger in America.

Sustaining Progress in the Fight Against Hunger

While the pandemic prompted many successful responses to hunger, including at the Olean Food Pantry, many of these initiatives are temporary. Community need persists now in different ways that are dictated by inflation and dramatic increases in the cost of living.  

Long-term support is now crucial to eradicating hunger. Success requires more than providing food alone. Here are three actionable ways to contribute:

• Advocate for the expansion of federal programs like Summer EBT and the Child Tax Credit to alleviate child poverty.
• Contribute financially to frontline organizations like local food banks, ensuring efficient responses to evolving challenges.
• Volunteer your time at food banks or meal programs, as many still require support to maintain operations.

Let’s Work Together to End Hunger in America

As a nation, we’ve demonstrated the power of unity in tackling hunger. But the battle against hunger in America is far from over. Sustained efforts and flexibility alongside evolving needs are crucial. 

By working together, advocating for change and supporting charitable initiatives, we can pave the way to a future in which hunger is eradicated. 

Donate to the Olean Food Pantry today, and here are some other ways to help!