According to the latest annual Map the Meal Gap data released by Feeding America, rates of food insecurity in Golden Harvest Food Bank’s service area have surged to 1 in 7 individuals, including 1 in 4 children currently facing hunger. Previous numbers indicated 1 in 9 people, with 1 in 6 children, across the 25-county, 11,000 square mile area were food insecure. 

Of the counties that Golden Harvest Food Bank serves, child food insecurity rates range from 1 in 9 in Columbia County to a troubling 1 in 2 in Hancock County. Overall food insecurity ranges from 1 in 9 in Columbia County to 1 in 5 in both Emanuel and Jenkins Counties.

“The alarming increases in food insecurity across our 25 counties, particularly among children, highlights the critical importance of our collaborative efforts to combat hunger,” said Amy Breitmann, President & CEO, Golden Harvest Food Bank. “We are thankful for our community and our partners for standing alongside us as we take the necessary steps to ensure that no one, especially our younger generation, goes without a meal.”

Map the Meal Gap is the only study providing local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district across the country. The study builds upon the USDA’s latest report of national and state data, which showed a sharp increase in food insecurity in 2022 amidst historically high food prices and the expiration of many pandemic-era programs. 

The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by Conagra Brands Foundation and NielsenIQ/NIQ. Additional key takeaways from the report can be found on the Map the Meal Gap website along with an interactive map that details food insecurity by geography, income, race and ethnicity.

For more information about Golden Harvest Food Bank and how to help end hunger across our 25-county service area in Georgia and South Carolina, visit www.goldenharvest.org.