Other iterations of food insecurity include eating highly processed and fast food, forgoing medical care to pay for food, or buying food at high-priced corner stores. Shaak said the issue is compounded by a lack of transportation or the types of foods available in certain neighborhoods.
Feeding America‘s tally of food insecurity rates of the region are as follows:
- Pennsylvania: 10.9%
- Delaware: 12.6%
- New Jersey: 8.7%
In Philadelphia, one in four children are food insecure, said Loree D. Jones Brown, chief executive officer at Philabundance. The nonprofit helps expand food access through its food bank, provides hunger relief, and leverages a community kitchen for workforce development.
Jones Brown said the goal is to pull all levers to improve access to healthy food, such as fresh vegetables and fruits.
“The people we serve talk about having more month than money,” she said.
While the permanent federal program may be helpful, it likely won’t completely fill the void, said Shaak. If an eligible child is given just $40 per month during the summer, that is just $2 per day.
“Oftentimes, the funding falls short in addressing family needs,” Shaak said. “Programs like TANF and SNAP have not increased benefit amounts to keep up with rising costs of living over the years, so their value continues to go down as [a] families’ need increase.”
In the years since the pandemic first began, food insecurity has steadily increased, according to a USDA report. Looking closer, the years where food insecurity ticked upward also lined up with the end of pandemic-era funding and programs.
“Well, guess what happened in 2022? Inflation,” Jones Brown said.
More people began to request help from food banks around the region, including Philabundance. The nonprofit has seen waves of people, particularly during the weekends, winter and summer.
“We can provide support [for] about 135,000 of them. So we’re not reaching everybody. We definitely need more and more help,” Jones Brown said, adding that Philabundance also aids people in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey each week.
Families in Pennsylvania can check their eligibility:
Families in New Jersey can check their eligibility online.
The United Way of Pennsylvania compiled a list of food banks in Philadelphia.
However, some families may need to apply when the application portal opens in the next few months.
Families can buy food at grocery stores, farmers’ markets and other food retailers that accept SNAP benefits.
Jones Brown said that this program’s key is that these benefits are distributed via a debit card where families can buy healthy food they like.
“We love that because it provides families with the opportunity to make healthy choices for their kids. Research tells us that when people have the opportunity they have access and choice,” she said.