Volunteers assist United Way Serving Howard and Tipton Counties with its Buddy Bags program, which feeds more than 100 children locally every week during the school year.

Study shows more than 23 percent of children go hungry locally

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Child food insecurity affects every county in the United States. At the local level, Map the Meal Gap finds that 1 in 5 children in Food Finders Food Bank’s 16-county service area are experiencing food insecurity. In Howard County, approximately one in four, or 23.4 percent, of children are experiencing food insecurity.

Map the Meal Gap, now in its 15th year, is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district. The study builds upon USDA’s most recent national and state data report, which showed 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the highest rate in over a decade. Map the Meal Gap emphasizes the need for the public to join the movement to end hunger.

"Leveraging the data in this year's study will help us address challenges shared with us by people facing hunger and identify local ways to support our community," said Kier Crites Muller, President/CEO of Food Finders. "Hunger remains an urgent crisis throughout our 16-county service area. When we listen to our neighbors facing hunger and use the study's findings, we can unite to create a future where everyone, including children, can access the nutritious food they need to thrive.

“This mission becomes even more critical as threats to vital social safety net programs like SNAP, TEFAP, and Medicaid could worsen food insecurity for our most vulnerable populations, particularly children who rely on these essential services.”

Food Finders expressed thanks to its agency partners in Howard County for their essential role in the fight against hunger. The organization credited local efforts and volunteers for having a tangible impact on the community. The goal, it said, is to build a stronger community where no one goes without.

Other key findings of Map the Meal Gap include:

• Overall, food insecurity rates increased in Howard County, with 16.5 percent, or roughly one in six residents, experiencing food insecurity
• Nationally, more than two out of every five people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP benefits due to income limits. In Howard County, 54.3 percent of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP.
• Food insecurity impacts communities in every county, parish and congressional district in the U.S. It is experienced by people from all backgrounds and demographics, but disparities exist.
• Estimated food insecurity levels vary across the country, influenced by income-related factors, like unemployment, poverty, high cost of living, community- and health-related factors, and systemic barriers to opportunity that have created disparities in food insecurity.
• Nationwide, nearly 9 out of 10 high food insecurity counties are rural, indicating regional disparities.

Food insecurity also varies for different age groups. Among children, food insecurity in Food Finders’ 16-county service area ranges from 14.2 percent in Clinton County to 23.4 percent in Howard County. Available data by race/ethnicity shows that 14 percent of white individuals, 33 percent of Black individuals, and 24 percent of Latino individuals experienced food insecurity in 2023.

The Center Township Trustee’s Office holds a Community Expo each summer to connect those in need of services, such as addressing hunger. The next expo is set for June 12, 2025.

The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by Conagra Brands Foundation, Enterprise Mobility 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.

Map the Meal Gap uses publicly available data from USDA Economic Research Service, U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate local food insecurity at the county, congressional district and state levels. The study also estimates local meal costs and food budget shortfalls using food price data from NIQ, based on USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan, and grocery sales tax data for every county and state in the country.

To learn how food insecurity impacts the community, visit FeedingAmerica.org/MaptheMealGap. For more information about Food Finders Food Bank and how to help end hunger in Howard County, visit foodfinders.org.