According to the most recent data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap, a total of 139,020 individuals residing in the 42-county service area of Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartlands (FAKH), experienced food insecurity in 2021. Among them, over 1,700 residents from Caldwell County were also affected.
Feeding America officials explain that food insecurity, as defined by the US Department of Agriculture, refers to insufficient access to an adequate amount of food for a healthy and active lifestyle. They emphasize that food insecurity is linked to various detrimental social and health consequences and is acknowledged as a significant public health concern.
FAKH officials say the annual Map and Meal Gap provides them with valuable data that aids in comprehending the magnitude of food insecurity within their region. This information also serves as a guide for their efforts to address this pressing issue at the county level.
According to the data, the overall food insecurity rate in Caldwell County is 13. 6 percent (approximately one in seven), totaling 1,720 food-insecure individuals, which is 3.2 percent higher than the national rate. The child food insecurity rate in the county is 15.6 percent (approximately one in six), totaling 450 food-insecure children.
The study also reveals a significant finding that more than 24 percent of individuals experiencing food insecurity in Caldwell County do not qualify for SNAP or other government assistance programs.
Officials say despite a decrease in the overall food insecurity rate in the FAKH region in 2021 compared to the previous year (which stood at 152,230), the region continues to face a persistent and urgent challenge of food insecurity due to the discontinuation of numerous food assistance programs implemented during the pandemic, compounded by the current surge in inflation and escalating grocery prices. Last year, the FAKH distributed 340,235 pounds of food which provided enough food for over 283,604 meals in Caldwell County valued at $510,325.
To learn more about FAKH and support the organization’s mission of fighting food insecurity in the region, visit www.feedingamericaky.org.
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