Hunger can affect anyone with a change in circumstances. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides benefits to help households buy food.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture report found 44 million people experienced food insecurity in 2022 — an increase from the previous year. Data makes clear that in every parish in Louisiana, there are people who cannot afford the food they need.
Another statistic is that, statewide, over one-third of people experiencing food insecurity in Louisiana are children. Food insecurity is defined as a lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy life.
SNAP is celebrating its 60th anniversary and serves as a lifeline to families and individuals experiencing food insecurity. SNAP provides support to help people put food on the table during tough times, serving children, seniors and people with disabilities. However, almost 50% of people facing hunger earn too much to qualify for SNAP, according to our organization's Map the Meal Gap study.
At Feeding Louisiana, we believe everyone in our country should have access to the resources they need, no matter their race, background or ZIP code.
Food insecurity is an urgent issue that Feeding Louisiana and other hunger-relief organizations are tirelessly working to address, but strengthening federal nutrition programs is critical to ending hunger. We need leaders in Congress to advance a bipartisan farm bill that strengthens SNAP and other programs addressing food insecurity, supports our farmers and food banks and helps families in Louisiana access the nutritious food they need.
While there are many complex issues to work out in Congress, hunger should not be one of them. We have local solutions that work, and food banks across the country are doing the work to care for our communities. What we need is for Congress to do its part.
MARY PRITCHARD
director of policy and advocacy, Feeding Louisiana