PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A new study from the national nonprofit Feeding America shows food insecurity rates are rising, with a significant spike in our area.
The study reflects 2020 estimates of food insecurity overall. For the first time, it examines differences in rates among race and ethnicity.
“Sadly, more people who are African American and Latino, not just here in our region but across the country, are food insecure,” said Philabundance CEO Loree Jones.
“The populations that saw a greater hunger and greater food insecurity are children [who are] African Americans and Hispanics.”
In 2020, overall food insecurity in Philabundance’s nine-county service area including South Jersey was 10.5%, an increase of 1% from 2019.
Jones said children were affected the most.
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“In 2019, child food insecurity was 24.2% in Philadelphia — already too many — but it went up to 30.9%, so almost 31% of children in Philadelphia County and the City of Philadelphia are food insecure.”
She added that Camden and Salem counties were shortly behind Philadelphia in having the largest increase in food security. Chester County saw the only decrease in food insecurity in Philabundance’s nine-county area during that period, from 6.3% in 2019 to 6% in 2020.
Jones added that they’re seeing even greater food insecurity this year.
“As we look at 2022 at what’s happening on the ground that even there, we see more people who need to access food,” said Jones.
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Philabundance is not alone in seeing those trends. The Food Bank of South Jersey said that 96,000 people sought their services in May, a 63% increase from January. U.S. Census Bureau studies estimate that 10 million fewer Americans had enough food over a one-week period in June compared to a similar time span in January.
Jones said having detailed information each year allows them to see where the most need is, so they can provide more resources on the ground.
“We want people to have more access to benefits, like the supplemental nutrition assistance program, what we know as food stamps,” she said.
“We are also in partnership [with] the City of Philadelphia, working with city officials and the school district and partners to provide more food for kids, particularly in times when school is not in [session].”