Hunger/Food/Nutrition / Public News Service

In fiscal year 2021, the Wyoming Food Bank distributed more than 13 million pounds of food, a 12% increase over 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Wyoming Food Bank to Distribute Water to Rawlins Residents

Water is a precious commodity in Wyoming and across the Mountain West, and the Wyoming Food Bank is headed to replenish supplies for Rawlins …

About a quarter of Oregon's population is a race or ethnicity other than white, according to the Census Bureau. (niyazz/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Ties Between Systemic Racism, Hunger on Ballot as Oregonians Vote

Oregon's primary election is today, and one of the issues affecting voters is systemic racism. Black, Indigenous and people of color suffer from …

Parts of Oregon are considered child-care deserts because of the lack of access to care. (Irina Schmidt/Adobe Stock)

Monday, May 16, 2022

Crisis of Child Care Affordability Affects OR Voters

Oregonians are casting their ballots for Tuesday's primary election. One issue affecting many voters is access to child care. Courtney Helstein…

Overtime pay will be phased in for farmworkers in Oregon over the next five years. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

Farmworkers Rights a Ballot Issue as OR Primary Approaches

Ballots are due for Oregon's primary election on Tuesday, and one key issue for voters is the rights of workers who grow the state's food. …

Four meat companies - Cargill, Tyson Foods, JBS and National Beef Packing - control about 70% of the beef market in the United States. (agnormark/Adobe Stock)

Fed Funds for Small MT Meat Processors Fend off Industry Consolidation

Small Montana meat processors are on the front lines against the large companies that control the industry. Funding from the American Rescue Plan is …

Baby formula out-of-stock rates jumped from 30% to 40% over the course of April. (279photo/Adobe Stock)

Baby Formula Shortage Hits Low-Income, Rural Communities Hard

The baby-formula shortage is hitting Michigan families hard, especially those who live in rural areas, are low-income or have kids with digestive or …

Families that cannot find infant formula are advised to call their pediatrician or local WIC office for assistance. (Adobe Stock)

Baby Formula Shortage a 'Very Dire' Situation for Ohio Families

The nationwide shortage of baby formula has many Ohio families scrambling to feed their little ones. Just a couple of months after a baby-formula …

Since the National Association of Letter Carriers began participating in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, they have collected an estimated 1.8 billion pounds of food for families in need. (Andrii/Adobe stock)

UT Letter Carriers Help 'Stamp Out Hunger' with Food Collections

Utahns can expect their mail to be delivered as usual this Saturday but with a catch. Your letter carrier will be asking for something in return - a …

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico includes one in four children being at risk of hunger, and one in six people overall. (hfcc.edu)

Letter Carriers 'Stamp Out Hunger' Campaign Returns After COVID Hiatus

Mail carriers across New Mexico are gearing-up for the "2022 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive" this Saturday, May 14. The National Association of Letter …

According to Feeding America, Latino or Hispanic residents are 2.5 times more likely to live in food insecure households compared with White residents. (Adobe Stock)

Durham Food Bank Expands Offerings of Culturally Appropriate Fare

A food pantry serving immigrant families in the Triangle is bracing for an uptick in demand driven by the highest levels of inflation in decades…

Hunger Action Los Angeles volunteers pack food bags for seniors impacted by the pandemic. (Frank Tamborello)

For Hunger Action Week, Advocates Press for More Funding

It's Hunger Action Week, and activists are asking lawmakers to use California's wealth for the people's health - and harness the budget surplus to …

A customized mobile food truck run by the Manna Meal food pantry will soon begin delivering hot meals to Charleston residents in need. (Amy Wolfe/Manna Meal)

Charleston Food Truck to Provide Daily Meals to Those in Need

American Rescue Plan funds will help bring a new food truck to the streets of Charleston, providing free hot meals to the region's most vulnerable …

California may grow much of the nation's fresh produce, but new research estimates a half-million undocumented California residents, ages 27 to 49, are affected by food insecurity. (Olga Lyubkin/Adobe Stock)

Groups Press to Include Undocumented in CA Food Assistance

New research on hunger shows 45% of undocumented immigrants in California are affected by food insecurity, and 60% of undocumented children live in …

A storytelling project in the desert Southwest demonstrated the resiliency of local food production versus reliance on the industrial food system. (Courtesy Michelle Carreon)

Desert Southwest Shows Resilience in Feeding Families Amid COVID-19

When a nonprofit food center in the desert Southwest began a project to chronicle challenges of land and water access combined with climate change…

Data from Oregon State University suggests food insecurity spiked to 1 million people in the state in May 2020. (Mediaphotos/Adobe Stock)

Hunger on Ballot as Oregonians Vote in Primary Election

Ballots will start to be mailed out today for Oregon's primary election, and one issue sure to be on voters' minds is hunger. Food insecurity had …

Research in 2020 and 2021 at the University of New Mexico found a higher percentage of undergraduates were food insecure than graduate/professional students. (news.unm.edu)

More Money for Food Pantries at NM Colleges, Universities

More than half of Native American students at the University of New Mexico face food insecurity, with Hispanics second-most affected, at 35%…

It's estimated that every dollar spent at farmers markets generates $3 in economic activity, and tends to stay in Nebraska, unlike at grocery chains. (Adobe Stock)

Program Doubles Food Budget for SNAP Participants at Farmers Markets

One sign of springtime in Nebraska is the return of local farmers markets, and families participating in SNAP - the program formerly known as food …

Per state data, there were nearly 625-thousand Hoosiers on SNAP as of March. (Adobe Stock)

IN Food Aid Groups Work to Meet College Students' Food Needs

The end of the semester is approaching for Hoosier students, and food aid groups across the state are working to ensure folks have enough to eat …

About 10% of students at Virginia's Community Colleges responded to a survey on food insecurity and homelessness in 2021. The data is informing today's decisions to increase assistance. (Adobe Stock/Elena Shi)

Food Insecurity, Mental Health are Challenges for VA College Students

Community college students in Virginia still face food insecurity a year after survey data shows the COVID pandemic created greater challenges due to …

Federal data released earlier this year finds more than 14% of households with children nationwide were food insecure during the height of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

More KY Kids Could Go Hungry This Summer When Federal Waivers Expire

Federal waivers put in place at the height of the pandemic allowed federal child nutrition programs more flexibility in delivering meals to households…

Those behind a Midwest food-donation effort for Ukraine say there are many relief efforts with good intentions. But sometimes donations can sit unused after shipment because of logistical issues. (Adobe Stock)

From the Midwest to Eastern Europe, Meal Program Helps Ukranian Refugees

Images from Ukraine and its fight for survival against Russia tug at the heartstrings of Americans, and those wishing to donate to relief …

Geneva Ortiz, Tom Elmhorst and Mildred Griffee sort surplus bread as weekly volunteers for Albuquerque's Roadrunner Food Bank. (courtesy photo: rrfb)

Purpose, Better Health Drives New Mexico Volunteers

COVID-19 shutdowns sent many New Mexico volunteers home to isolate, especially those 60 and older. This month, volunteer contributions are being …

Wash these well before eating! Studies have linked pesticide exposure to numerous health effects, including cancer, brain fog and endocrine disorders. (Dionisvera/Adobestock)

2022 "Dirty Dozen": Produce with the Most Pesticides

An annual list of best and worst produce, in terms of pesticide residue, is out - and strawberries, spinach, kale, and collard and mustard greens top …

Households with children in Arkansas are more likely to rely on SNAP benefits, according to Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Worried More Rural AR Kids May Go Hungry This Summer

Federal waivers put in place at the height of the pandemic allowed federal child nutrition programs more flexibility in delivering meals to households…

In 2020, an average of 325 Minnesotans were served each month by the Minnesota Food Assistance Program, which follows SNAP eligibility criteria. Hunger-fighting groups fear too many other households make too much to qualify for benefits, but still can't put food on the table. (Adobe Stock)

'We're Scraping By': Hunger Concerns Spur Calls for Higher SNAP Eligibility

Food insecurity is getting more attention these days, and some working families still have trouble meeting basic needs under mounting living expenses …

<a href= — Federal data released earlier this year finds more than 14% of households with children nationwide were food insecure during the height of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

End of Federal Waivers May Put More Rural TN Kids at Hunger Risk

Federal waivers put in place at the height of the pandemic allowed federal child nutrition programs more flexibility in delivering meals to households…

Save the Children has partnered with farmers to make boxes of fruits and vegetables available to low-income rural families. (Cavan/Adobeststock)

Rural Kids’ Food Programs Ramp Up for Summer

One might think that food insecurity would improve as California recovers from the pandemic - but advocates say hunger remains a significant issue…

Just four meat-processing giants control more than 80% of the beef industry and more than 60% of the pork industry. A report says this enables them to dictate prices that both flatten returns for farmers and ranchers and inflate prices for consumers at the meat counter. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Corporate Profiteering Fueling Inflation

A new report confirms what it said CEOs have been telling shareholders for months: Inflation has been very good for business. Lindsay Owens…

The Summer Nutrition Program provides free meals and snacks to all Utah children 18 and younger when school is not in session. (Sandra Cunningham/Adobe Stock)

Looming End to Pandemic Waivers Puts Utah Kids at Risk of Hunger

Federal waivers put in place at the height of the pandemic allowed federal child nutrition programs more flexibility in delivering meals to households…

In Washington state, a 2021 survey found one-third of households with children were food insecure. (Eugenio Marongiu/Adobe Stock)

Creative Solutions Address Rural Hunger for Kids, Where Need is High

The highest rates of food insecurity for children are in rural areas, which has prompted innovative ways to solve the issue. According to Feeding …

An estimated 30 million students are receiving free school meals, about 10 million more than before eligibility requirements were waived because of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Policies Took a Bite Out of Child Hunger

Federal pandemic waivers took a bite out of child hunger, according to census data, and there are concerns those trends could be reversed when the …

Gasoline prices are higher in California than New Mexico, but drivers could pay over $5 and even $6 a gallon for unleaded during peak summer driving season, according to AAA. (Obelixlatino/Pixabay)

NM Legislature Convenes to Consider Relief for Gas, Food Prices

With the goal of providing financial relief for New Mexicans struggling with higher prices for gas and food, legislators convene today for a special …

Rising food costs have prompted a closer look at strengthening local and regional supply chain infrastructure for small farms across North Carolina. (Adobe Stock)

As Costs Rise, Opportunities Dwindle for NC Small Farmers

Advocates for small farms and ranches in North Carolina say the businesses are ready to bring local, affordable meats and produce to residents…

One of the only bright spots in the USDA's food-price predictions for 2022 is that fresh vegetables are expected to rise in price just 1 to 2%. (Travel Photographer/Negative Space)

Along with Prices, Hunger Rises in Texas

Prices for food, gas and housing are all higher in Texas this year than last. And for local food banks, that means the need for their services is …

Numerous studies have shown that when children are given healthy food, they do better in school and stay healthier overall. (Adobe Stock)

Children’s Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Extend School Meals for All

Federal COVID relief funds that helped expand access to school meals for all kids regardless of their ability to pay are set to expire in June…

Ohio currently has roughly 157,000 WIC participants. (Adobe Stock)

OH Study Makes Case for Online WIC Program

New research is making the case for an online system to better serve young families who depend on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women…

Nearly 40 farmers markets are spread across North Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

Growing Power: ND Communities Urged to Embrace Farmers Markets

In the coming months, North Dakotans will be filling baskets at local farmers markets. As vendors prepare this year's produce, communities around the …

Some 20% of respondents to a diaper bank survey said they've used a payday or other short-term loan to purchase diapers. (laboko/Adobe Stock)

MO Groups Urge Federal Support for Diaper Banks

Groups in Missouri are urging Congress to pass a full-year, fully funded appropriations bill, instead of a parade of stopgap continuing resolutions …

A recent report by the Hope Center calls on states to increase funding for HBCUs to help close the gap in addressing students' basic needs. (Adobe Stock)

Hunger Persists at HBCUs, Despite Record Federal Funding

Tennessee's six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) collectively received more than $131 million in the past year through the America…

North Dakota's only food bank says currently, hunger affects one in six individuals across the state, and one in four children. (Adobe Stock)

Higher Costs, Budget Decisions Prompt More Food Scarcity Concerns

Nearly 9% of North Dakota households do not have enough to eat right now, and the push to expand free meals for students at school appears to have …

Urban Tilth distributes bags of produce in parts in the Richmond area, which is considered a "food desert" due to the low number of quality grocery stores. (Christian Parra)

Boxes of Vegetables as Medicine? Advocates Work Toward Food Justice

Low-income families in the East Bay area may soon have easier access to fresh, locally grown produce thanks to an expansion of a state Medi-Cal …

According to the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, there are nearly 32,000 abandoned lots in Chicago, some of which are finding new life as community gardens. (Adobe Stock)

Public Leadership Program Aims to Bring Sustainable Food System to Illinois

From farm to table, a public leadership program is working to bring more sustainable food systems to the greater Chicago area. The HEAL Food …

The WIC nutrition program had 32% less funding in Fiscal Year 2021 than Fiscal Year 2010, when taking inflation into account. (Adobe Stock)

Stop the Stopgap: Groups say Ohioans Deserve More Certainty, Dignity

Federal programs that help struggling Ohioans are running on a temporary spending bill that expires in 10 days, on March 11, and hundreds of groups …

Ending Nebraska's lifetime ban on food assistance for people convicted of drug felonies is projected to result in 23 fewer individuals recidivating, saving upwards of $1 million for taxpayers. (Adobe Stock)

Bill to End Lifetime Ban on Food Assistance Before Nebraska Lawmakers

Nebraska lawmakers are considering a bill to end a lifetime ban on federal food assistance for people convicted of federal drug felonies. Proponents …

Since the start of the pandemic, at least 30,000 immigrant families in New Mexico were excluded from stimulus rebate checks, unemployment benefits and other safety-net programs. (SomosUnPuebloUnido)

Statewide "Guaranteed Basic Income" Launches in New Mexico

In the next few days, more than 300 undocumented or mixed-immigration-status New Mexico families will begin receiving $500 monthly for the next year…

Nationwide, 6 million to 7 million children depend on WIC food assistance. (Liliya Trott/Adobestock)

Program Providing Extra Fruit, Vegetables to Kids Set to Expire

Advocates warn that low-income families may have to cut back on fruits and vegetables starting in April - if Congress allows part of their food benefi…

Due to the adoption of the child-nutrition waivers, an estimated 90% of Arkansas school districts were able to continue to provide meals to kids during the pandemic shutdown, according to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Extend Child-Nutrition Waivers Past June 30

Children's advocates are sounding the alarm about the expiration of a program they say has been key to keeping low-income children fed during the pand…

In a new survey of HBCU students, 55% reported their housing situation was not secure at some point in the last year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: HBCU Students Face Obstacles to Meeting Basic Needs

The pandemic's lingering effects are being felt by some college students struggling to make it to graduation. A new report focuses on the barriers …

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