LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report titled "Household Food Security in the United States in 2022", which revealed a significant impact on Arkansas.
The USDA defines food insecure households as those with difficulty providing enough food for all their members due to a lack of resources at some point during the year.
The data showed that 1 in 7 people, including 1 in 5 children, in the U.S. live in food insecure households. As of 2022, 16.6% of Arkansans were considered food insecure, making Arkansas the number one state with the highest percentage of residents facing food insecurity.
"The increase in food insecurity, both nationally and in our state, is sobering," said Brian Burton, CEO of the Arkansas Foodbank. " With the decline in government pandemic food assistance from record highs in 2021 and now with crippling inflation, we have seen firsthand the increase in families turning to the charitable food system in the communities we serve.”
The Arkansas Foodbank has doubled down on efforts to fight hunger and has distributed over 40 million pounds of food each year in 33 counties in central and southeastern Arkansas.
“The Arkansas Foodbank remains committed to its mission to eliminate hunger and improve access to food for Arkansans, understanding that the fight against food insecurity requires a collective effort,” added Burton. “We are dedicated to making a lasting impact and fostering a community where no one goes to bed hungry.”