Food insecurity. We hear this term used on TV and read it in articles. There is a vague feeling about what the term means. It means not having access to sufficient food, or food of an adequate quality, to meet basic needs. A family with food insecurity may have some members who eat and others who go hungry. Parents, for instance, may feed their children first without much left for themselves. At least some of the time, food insecure people may not be sure where their next meal is coming from. They may only eat once a day. Or they do not have enough money to buy good, nutritious food. There are direct and indirect impacts on physical and mental health for people of all ages. But it is especially detrimental to the health, development and well-being of children in both the short and long term.

According to Feeding America, “After the Great Recession (2007-2009), households began using emergency food assistance programs as a consistent solution to their food needs. In the aftermath of the Great Depression, pantries became a part of households’ long-term strategy to supplement monthly food budget shortfalls. Seniors, who so often are limited by fixed incomes, are among the most consistent pantry clients.” Although it is often hidden, hunger is a national crisis.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines households as food insecure if they had difficulty providing enough quality food for all members at some time in the past year because there wasn't enough money for food. Food pantry support is for anybody who needs it. This can include those who are homeless, unemployed, or employed but their pay is not always sufficient to meet their needs. Support can be long term or in some cases short term - when someone has had a financially tough week or month or season.

Health and Human Services define poverty in 2023 as a family of 4 living on $30,000 a year or less. But once increased rents, inflated food costs, medical bills and costly medications, increased gas prices, etc are factored in - it can be extremely difficult for many families to buy a sufficient quantity of quality food. In Union County alone, the food insecurity rate is estimated to be at around 17% of our population - or around 3300 people. That does not include the folks who don’t meet the poverty guidelines but are still struggling to pay bills and buy food. And that’s where our 6 local Food Pantries and various Blessing Boxes step up to help fill the void.

There are two terms that are occasionally used interchangeably: Food Bank and Food Pantry. Food Banks are non-profit organizations that typically act as food storage and distribution depots for smaller front-line agencies. They usually do not give food directly to people. Food Banks collect commodities from the food industry and food drives. They inventory it, store it, and distribute it to agencies. Food Pantries, also non-profit, are individual sites, often churches, that distribute bags or boxes of food directly to those who can use a little help making ends meet. A food pantry is generally a member of, and obtains food from, a food bank. Both food pantries and food banks share the same commitment: to provide food to those in need. 

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Sources:
Kitty Lewis, Food Pantry of Union County
Deerenda Cooke, Hines Creek Food Pantry
Maudie Ward, New Fellowship Full Gospel Church Food Pantry
Health and Human Services website
FeedingAmerica.org
NPR
WATE-TV
Eileen Emerson, Second Harvest Food Bank TN