Right here in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, food insecurity affects 1 in 8 people. The need is even greater among children: 1 in 5 is food insecure.
What is food insecurity? Simply put, it’s having unreliable access to healthy food. Food-insecure people may live in urban neighborhoods and rural communities where healthy food is scarce. They may live in the suburbs and struggle as a result of job loss, health problems, or foreclosures. They often skip meals or buy cheaper, less nourishing food because that’s all they can afford. Food insecurity affects every aspect of life, from education and health to a child’s cognitive development.
The causes of food insecurity are complex, but at Feeding America West Michigan, we believe that no one in our community should be deprived of the basic necessity of good food, and we’re working toward our goal of making food available to everyone in need in our region.
Get the facts
Food Insecurity: Health effects on adults and children
Latest Research on Feeding America West Michigan Clientele: Hunger in America 2014
Hunger Among the Working Poor: From Paycheck to Pantry Report
Employment in Michigan: Labor-force participation rate
Poverty in Michigan: County fact sheets
Senior Hunger: Trends and Statistics
Food Waste in the United States: Wasted: How America Is Losing up to 40 Percent of Its Food
Saving Surplus Food: Solving hunger by reducing waste
Map the Meal Gap: food insecurity rates in the U.S.
