What is food insecurity?
Food insecurity means that millions of people in the U.S. lack access to enough food for an active, healthy life. It's not just about missing meals—it's about the anxiety, stress, and tough choices that people face when they don't know where their next meal is coming from.
1 in 9Americans live in households without reliable access to sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food.
Let's fix that →The chilling statistics
Hunger in the U.S. doesn't look the same everywhere. It can affect rural areas, cities, and suburban neighborhoods. Here are some key facts to help you understand the gravity of food insecurity.
No matter where you live, food insecurity is happening in your community. 100% of U.S. counties experience food insecurity to some degree.
Food insecurity impacts everyone. The problem costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $160 billion annually in healthcare, education, and lost productivity.
Growing up food insecure means more than an empty stomach. Kids facing hunger are 2.5x more likely to repeat a grade in school.
How does this happen?
You may be rolling deep in candy, but it's true — even a country as wealthy as the U.S. can have millions of people going hungry. The reasons are complex...
Who is most affected?
Food insecurity isn't fair. Some people are more likely to be affected by it than others.
How you can make a difference.
The Trick Or Canned Goods Club is an easy way for anyone to make a big impact one day a year. By swapping out candy for cans, you're helping stock the shelves of local food banks and providing essential meals for families in need. One can of food might seem small, but each one helps alleviate the stress of hunger for someone in your community. Together, we can change the Halloween spirit from greedy to giving.
Hungry for more?
Curious to know more about the hunger crisis in the U.S.? Here are some links to reliable sources.
The largest hunger-relief organization in the U.S., supporting a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries across the country. They provide meals to millions of Americans each year while conducting research and advocacy to end food insecurity.
Visit →The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides comprehensive, data-driven reports on food insecurity trends across the nation. These reports cover everything from the number of people affected by hunger to the socioeconomic factors contributing to food insecurity in different regions.
Visit →A national campaign run by Share Our Strength, dedicated to ending childhood hunger. They focus on connecting kids with effective nutrition programs like school meals, summer feeding programs, and SNAP. Their advocacy efforts help bring lasting changes to how hunger is addressed in the U.S.
Visit →