More than food can be left off the table
Many of our neighbors facing hunger use diverse strategies and resources, including food banks, to source food and cope with the shock of high prices.
However, as our neighbors shared in our 2025 Elevating Voices: Insights Report, these approaches often involve making decisions no one should have to make. When hunger strikes, other challenges can arise.
- To afford groceries over the past year, 51% of surveyed neighbors delayed paying bills such as rent, utilities and medical expenses.
- To afford groceries over the past year, 59% of surveyed neighbors relied on credit cards, loans or borrowed money
- Over the past year, surveyed neighbors skipped meals or ate less food (66%) and bought cheaper, less nutritious food (80%) due to high food prices.
Hunger and health
Hunger and health are deeply connected. People who face hunger are more susceptible to chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure—making our communities less healthy, productive and resilient.
Hunger and children
For kids, food insecurity is particularly devastating. Not having access to healthy food can harm a child's physical and mental health while leading to poor outcomes in the classroom and beyond.