Hunger is a feeling most people understand. After all, just about everyone has felt a hunger pang so strong it can feel like it’s been ages since they’ve eaten. While hunger is not a part of daily life for many people, for others, it’s an everyday occurrence marked by uncertainty about when and where the next meal may come from. This is called food insecurity, and it occurs when people don’t have enough to eat and don’t know where their next meal will come from.

Food insecurity is a legitimate concern for millions of individuals around the globe, including right here in Western New York, where 45% of people in Buffalo and Erie County live below the poverty line, and more than 12% of Erie County is food insecure. The accessibility and availability of food may make it seem as though individuals living among us are unlikely to go to bed hungry at night, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Feeding America® notes that 47 million people in the United States, including children, experience food insecurity annually. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization notes that 2.33 billion people globally faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023.

There’s no single culprit behind food insecurity, but it is important to note that prices of food purchased from stores increased by 9.8% between 2021 and 2022. Thankfully, prices have gone down in the past year. Undoubtedly, rising food prices contribute to food insecurity, but a report from Feeding America® says additional variables have made the issue a systemic problem and global concern.

  • Poverty and unemployment: People who live in poverty cannot afford to buy food regularly, and many live in places where access to affordable, healthy food is lacking.
  • Lack of affordable housing: Individuals paying exorbitant costs for housing may not have enough left over to pay for food, even if they are careful with their money.
  • Chronic health conditions: Individuals with long-term health problems may struggle to maintain a job that enables them to purchase food. In addition, medical bills associated with chronic health conditions can be expensive, depending on where a person lives, leaving little money to buy food.
  • Racism and discrimination: Feeding America® notes that individuals who are members of marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, and those with disabilities, are at greater risk for food insecurity due to systemic discrimination and poverty.

Food insecurity is a significant issue around the globe and right here in our communities. More information about food insecurity and what can be done to combat it is available at www.feedingamerica.org.

Learn what is being done here in Western New York through the efforts of FeedMore WNY, including how you can apply for assistance, at www.feedmorewny.org or call 716-852-1305.