This past week, members of the Skolnik team volunteered their time at the Greater Chicago Food Pantry repackaging 4,080 pounds of pinto beans for distribution to food pantries throughout the Chicagoland area.
- According to the USDA, more than 38 million people, including 12 million children, in the United States are food insecure.
- The pandemic has increased food insecurity among families with children and communities of color, who faced hunger at much higher rates before the pandemic.
- Every community in the country is home to families who face hunger. But rural communities are especially hard hit by hunger.
- Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and visit their local food banks and other food programs for extra support.
Why it matters: Rising food costs make it harder for people to afford their groceries. As food prices rise, the amount of food a family can purchase with its monthly food budget goes down. Families coping with reduced purchasing power may stretch their food budget by purchasing lower-cost foods, which are sometimes lower in nutritional quality; decreasing portion sizes; or skipping meals to stretch their food budget.
The bottom line: It doesn’t take a big commitment to make a big impact. Together, with millions of other food bank volunteers, your time makes a difference in the lives of your neighbors struggling with hunger.
Go deeper: Looking to volunteer? Check out the Feeding America website for opportunities in your own community.