Hunger/Food/Nutrition / Public News Service

The latest USDA statistics say 40% of single-parent households led by women faced food insecurity in 2020. (habrovich/Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 20, 2021

New Numbers Shed Light on Who's Going Hungry in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS -- Overall food insecurity in Indiana remained steady in 2020 in terms of numbers, but disparities remain. Data from the U.S. …

During the Great Recession, 50 million Americans experienced food insecurity, compared with an estimated 38 million during last year's economic fallout from COVID-19. (Adobe Stock)

Single Moms, Families of Color Most Affected by Hunger in 2020

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The rate of people experiencing hunger in Iowa and across the U.S. was steady during 2020, according to initial data from the U.S…

More than 42 million Americans may experience food insecurity because of the pandemic, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. (Waseem Ali Khan/Adobe Stock)

Groups Fighting Hunger Call for Action This Month

PORTLAND, Ore. - Groups fighting hunger and poverty in Oregon are urging renewed action this month to ensure that everyone is fed. September is …

Food Insecurity Rose for Single Moms, Families of Color in 2020

DENVER - The rate of people experiencing hunger in Colorado and across the U.S. remained statistically steady overall during 2020, according to …

Minnesota has bolstered "lunch-shaming" protections for students. But advocates say the state still ranks the near the bottom in using federal funds that allow low-income districts to offer universal lunches. (Adobe Stock)

Focus on Universal Meals, Preventing 'Lunch Shaming' as MN Students Return

MINNEAPOLIS -- More Minnesota school districts are welcoming back students this week. Because of the pandemic, schools are receiving federal aid to …

Some seniors experiencing food insecurity collect too much in Social Security benefits to qualify for federal SNAP (food stamp) benefits, and must rely on a local food bank to tide them over. (Queen/Pixabay)

Albuquerque Food Bank Joins National Hunger Action Month

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The number of people struggling to put food on the table in New Mexico has decreased since the onset of the pandemic, but those …

In order to receive meals from the Feeding Our Communities program, about 120 cars line up every Thursday. (United Way of King County)

Breaking Cultural Barriers to Feed Communities

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - An organization in one Washington state city is bringing together diverse communities and breaking down barriers to food…

In April 2020, SNAP enrollment in Kentucky increased by 16% due to coronavirus pandemic-related layoffs. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Pandemic EBT Grocery Money for Families Will Boost KY Economy

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- September is Hunger Action Month, and advocates say the latest round of federal Pandemic EBT and Summer EBT will give Kentucky's …

Thousands of Utah school children lose access to their daily school lunch and breakfast meals during the summer and other school breaks. (Anatoly/Adobe Stock)

'Stop Child Hunger Act' Aims to Fill Gaps in School Meal Programs

SALT LAKE CITY - Many Utah students, particularly those in rural areas, often are left without access to their school's meal program during breaks in …

Research has found SNAP benefits cover 43% to 60% of what it costs to eat meals consistent with federal guidelines for what constitutes a healthy diet. (Adobe Stock)

SNAP Benefit Boost Could Help More TN Families Afford Healthy Diet

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Advocates say the USDA's recent 25% Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit increase, slated to go into effect …

An adjustment to the USDA's Thrifty Food Plan goes into effect on October 1st. (Adobe Stock)

OH Groups: Make Programs that Support Families Permanent

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio food security advocates welcomed news last week of the largest permanent increase to SNAP benefits coming this fall and they …

According to a new national poll, 78% of families receiving monthly Child Tax Credit payments immediately spent the funds to help with housing, utilities and food costs. (Adobe Stock)

MN Parents: Expanded Tax Credit Helps, Should Be Extended

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Today is payday for many Americans. Families trying to make ends meet are also now getting a bump each month from the expanded …

Nearly 80% of respondents to a Project Bread survey said they had experienced food insecurity, but just over 30% knew little or nothing about SNAP. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Group Applauds SNAP Benefit Increase, Says Barriers Still Exist

BOSTON -- Groups working to end hunger in Massachusetts say the upcoming increase to SNAP benefits, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance …

Between 2015 and 2019, food insecurity declined 5% statewide, and groups are working to keep that going. (Kimberley Sprenger)

Summer Nutrition Program Includes Meals for Kids to Try On Their Own

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- More than 200,000 Missouri kids are facing food insecurity, according to the Missouri Kids Count 2021 Data Book. Today is the …

Environmental groups have sounded the alarm over runoff from factory farms and industrial agriculture that flow into rivers in central Iowa. (Adobe Stock)

New Map Highlights Impact of Slaughter Facilities on Waterways

DES MOINES, Iowa - Some of Iowa's largest drinking-water sources have struggled with runoff from livestock facilities and farm sites. A new …

About 13 million children may experience food insecurity in 2021, according to Feeding America. (Renee Jansoa/Adobe Stock)

Helping Communities Take Lead to Feed WA Children

SEATTLE - A growing number of Washington state kids are hungry because of the pandemic. Local programs are aiming to reverse this troubling trend…

The number of children whose families receive SNAP benefits in Ohio decreased from 32.2% in 2019 to 29% in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

New Child Well-Being Data Can Help OH Allocate ARP Funds

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Prior to the pandemic, Ohio counties saw fewer kids in poverty and other strides in improving child well-being, but the public-…

Experts say the expanded Child Tax Credit could reduce child poverty by half in the United States. (Kostia/Adobe Stock)

Expanded Child Tax Credit Boosts Safety Net for MI Families

ALLEGAN, Mich. -- More than 1.9 million Michigan kids are benefiting as their families see extra money from the extended federal Child Tax Credit…

Programs such as Double Up Food Bucks help families buy more fresh food at farmers markets. (Jeremy Segrott/Flickr)

Anti-Hunger Advocate to Tout Safety Net's Benefit in ID

BOISE, Idaho -- The head of Hunger Free America is coming to Idaho this weekend as part of his tour across the country. Joel Berg, CEO of the …

There are more than 58 million acres of farm and ranch land in Montana. (Annika Charter-Williams)

August Challenge for Montanans: Eat Local Every Day

BILLINGS, Mont. - Montanans are being challenged this month to eat locally grown foods, every day of August. The Northern Plains Resource Council is …

Chinook salmon spawn in four runs per year. The eggs, fry and juveniles in the winter and fall runs are expected to be harmed this year by water flows that are too warm. (dhogan172/Adobe Stock)

Groups Warn of Massive Salmon Die-Off, Press for Water Reform

SHASTA LAKE, Calif. - Within the next several weeks, experts are expecting a massive die-off of winter-run Chinook salmon as they spawn below the …

Farmers' markets are starting to reopen, after some had to shut down when their venues were closed during the COVID lockdowns. (SEE LA)

Celebrating Progress in the Fight Against Hunger in CA

LOS ANGELES -- Hunger-fighting advocacy groups are speaking out in California, drawing attention to the continuing problem of food insecurity…

The National School Lunch Program is designed to meet nutrition standards and promote healthy eating. (Adobe Stock)

Childrens' Advocates Press Congress to Extend Free School Meal Program

DENVER-During the COVID health emergency, the federal government made school meals available for free to all students, regardless of their financial …

Some tenants' advocates would like Virginia's new budget proposal for American Rescue Plan funding to include money for low-income renters to hire lawyers for eviction cases. (Adobe stock)<br /><br /> — Some tenants' advocates would like Virginia's new budget proposal for American Rescue Plan funding to include money for low-income renters to hire lawyers for eviction cases. (Adobe stock)

Virginia Lawmakers Urged to Direct COVID Funds to Working Families

RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia's General Assembly Special Session begins today to budget more than $4 billion in federal COVID relief funds, and advocates …

In a survey of young people who have experienced foster care, nearly 20% reported they ran out of food. (Maya Kruchancova/Adobe Stock)

AR Youth in Foster Care Eligible for Pandemic Relief Payments

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansans ages 16 to 26 who are or have been in the foster-care system now are eligible for one-time payments of at least $750…

Federal food assistance programs, including SNAP and Nebraska's Farmers Market Nutrition Program for seniors and families with children, ensure that farmers get fair market prices for their goods. (Adobe Stock)

Double Up Food Bucks Program Boosts Farmer’s Markets

LINCOLN, Neb. -- After a new state law expanded eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the program formerly known as …

Maine is among the first states to pass a bill for free school meals for all students, regardless of household income. (WaveBreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Parents Urged: Complete School Meal Forms Even Though Lunches are Free

AUGUSTA, Maine -- School meals in Maine will be free for all students again this year and into the future, but parents are being urged to fill out …

Before this week, families with children got a deduction on their income tax return for the Child Tax Credit. Under a new law, money from the tax credit will instead be deposited directly into families' bank accounts. (methaphum/Adobe Stock)

Groups Push Congress to Make Child Tax Credit Permanent

PHOENIX -- Starting this week, most Arizona families with children are seeing extra money in their bank accounts, and more than 1.5 million Arizona …

The 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit is set to benefit 89% of Colorado's children younger than 18. (nareekarn/Adobe Stock)

CO Families Already Benefiting from Advance Child Tax Credit Payments

DENVER -- Parents are now receiving fully refundable monthly 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit payments, and advocates for children and families have …

Nearly 300,000 Maine kids will benefit from the expanded Advance Child Tax Credit. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

ME Parents, Advocates: Make Expanded Child Tax Credit Permanent

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Parents are now receiving fully refundable monthly 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit payments, and advocates for children and families …

Tens of millions of families have been sent the first payment of the expanded child tax credit. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Tens of millions of families have been sent the first payment of the expanded child tax credit. (Adobe Stock)

Child Tax Credit Helping WV Families Pay for Transportation, Food

WHEELING, W.Va. -- An estimated 346,000 West Virginia children, 93% of all kids in the state, live in households that likely received their first …

The expanded Child Tax Credit gives families $250 to $300 every month per child and can be used for anything the family needs, such as groceries, rent or utilities. (Adobe stock)

Child Tax Credit Expansion Seen as Major Boost for Virginia Families

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. -- Beginning last week, thousands of Virginia families with children saw more money in their bank accounts as the federal …

California's state moratorium on evictions, intended to keep millions of families from becoming homeless, has been extended through October. This will give the state time to roll out its new Rent Relief Program. (Endho/Pixabay)

Expert: New CA Budget, Tax Credit are Windfalls for Families with Children

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Huge new aid programs are beating back poverty in the Golden State, especially among families with children. Gov. Gavin Newsom …

Treating food as medicine is becoming a more mainstream remedy in doctors' offices. (ARTFULLY-79/Adobe Stock)

ID Partnership on 'Farmacy' Treats Food as Medicine

BOISE, Idaho -- Boise State University nursing students and the Idaho Foodbank are teaming up to establish healthy food as crucial medicine for …

The budget passed by the Massachusetts General Court includes $1 million for VITA, or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs. (Centaur/Adobe Stock)

Gov. Baker Urged to Commit to Anti-Poverty Efforts in State Budget

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Community Action Agencies applauded the Massachusetts General Court for its commitments to anti-poverty efforts in the 2022 state …

Married couples with children under 18 who make up to $150,000 per year will qualify for the new, extended federal Child Tax Credit. (Jessica Shamout)

First Federal Child Tax Credit Funds Go Out Today

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- The first payments from the extended Child Tax Credit will hit most families' bank accounts today, providing much-needed relief …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated that one in six New Mexico individuals and one in four children live in homes without consistent access to food in order to live healthy, active lives. (rrfb.org)

NM Food Bank Reports Pandemic-Induced Record for Food Distribution

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The COVID-19 pandemic is waning, but its devastating impact has changed just about every aspect of normal life, including levels …

Weight gain was a common pandemic side effect, but experts say just adding a few more steps to your routine can help shed the pounds. (stevepb/Pixabay)

Experts Advise Kindness, Not Dieting, to Lose Pandemic Weight Gain

SANTA FE, N.M. - More than 60% of adults reported weight problems during the pandemic, according to the American Psychological Association. So…

The Pandemic EBT program offers about $375 in food benefits per eligible child over the summer months to replace school meals. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Report: Permanent Summer Food Program Would Benefit ID Kids

BOISE, Idaho -- Summer usually coincides with a troubling spike in childhood hunger while kids are out of school, but a program set up during the …

Around 16% of Greater Cincinnatians surveyed during the pandemic said they had serious problems paying their mortgage or rent. (AdobeStock)

1 in 4 Ohioans Hit by Financial Toll of Pandemic

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 disrupted the lives of Ohioans, and data continues to evolve that is uncovering the far-…

An average of 1.7 million WIC participants receive Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits each year. (Adobe Stock)

WIC Families Can Now Get Vouchers for Farmers Market Purchases

DENVER -- Participants in WIC, the federal nutrition assistance program for women, infants, and children, can now get vouchers to buy food at farmers …

For decades, farmers have called on the USDA to take antitrust action against what they say is anticompetitive behavior in consolidated ag markets. (Adobe Stock)

ND Farmers: Antitrust Work Needs to Result in Votes

JAMESTOWN, N.D. -- Voices for North Dakota farmers feel they're only at the halfway point in seeing more fairness within agriculture markets…

North Carolina ranks 34th among states for children's well-being in the 2021 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, although the state improved on many individual measures in the report. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic-Relief Measures Can Help More NC Kids

RALEIGH, N.C. -- New survey data offer a clear picture of how North Carolina kids and families are faring, both before and after the pandemic…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a 50/50 match on Nebraska dollars invested in outreach to get more eligible families enrolled in SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps. (Adobe Stock)

More Nebraskans Can Access Food Assistance Despite Governor Veto

OMAHA, Neb. - More Nebraskans will be eligible for SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps, beginning July 11. Tiffany Joekel, research and …

A new report shows Arizona's investments in its children's health, education and overall family economic stability are among the lowest in the 50 states. (cerva/Adobe Stock)<br /><br /> — A new report shows Arizona's investments in its children's health, education and overall family economic stability are among the lowest in the 50 states. (cerva/Adobe Stock)

Report: AZ Under-Invests in Children's Health, Education, Well-Being

PHOENIX -- A decade-long look at how Arizona is taking care of its children finds the state is failing to provide the social, educational and …

According to the 2021 Kids Count Data Book, the number of Connecticut children ages 3 and 4 not enrolled in preschool has dropped in the last decade, from 38% in 2009-2011 to 34% in 2017-2019. (Adobe Stock)

Report Suggests More CT Families Backslid Financially in Pandemic

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut ranks in the top 10 states for children's education and health, but its families rank lower in terms of economic well-…

New York state ranks 16th in the nation for education. The 2021 Kids Count Data Book shows from 2017-2019, 41% of New York children ages 3 and 4 weren't enrolled in preschool, compared to the 52% U.S. average. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Federal Support Vital to NY Families’ Economic Recovery

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York is among the top 10 U.S. states for health among children, and the bottom ten for families' overall economic wellbeing…

Prior to the pandemic, nearly 120,000 Indiana families with children lacked health insurance. That reflected progress in reducing the overall rate, but a new report says the pandemic has reversed it. (Adobe Stock)

Child Well-Being Report: More IN Families without Health Insurance

INDIANAPOLIS -- Like many other states, Indiana saw progress in improving children's lives before the pandemic, but an annual report said the crisis …

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