Halloween is just around the corner and there are spooky decorations everywhere we look. For many, it’s a time full of frightful fun with monsters and mummies, and ghosts and goblins galore. At the end of the evening on October 31st costumes get packed away and the decorations come down.  

For our neighbors who are food insecure, there’s nothing more terrifying than the reality of not having enough to eat. The worry and fear of choosing between whether you can put dinner on the table or pay your medical, housing, electricity, or childcare bills can keep you up at night. The devastating impact of not having enough nutritious food affects every single aspect of everyday life for people facing hunger, and it can cause constant dread and anxiety for many of our community members.  

HUNGER IS SCARY. Just look at the numbers!  

• In 2021, 33.8 million people lived in food-insecure households.

• 10.2% of households in America experienced food insecurity in 2021.

• An estimated 53 million people, that’s one in six individuals, turned to food banks, food pantries, and other private food assistance programs in 2021.

This data, recently published by the USDA’s Economic Research Service 2022, is a vital tool that Philabundance utilizes to assess the need in the communities we serve. Our hope is to shape our strategic focus for various programs, events, and initiatives throughout the year, with an end goal to #EndHunger for good.  

Click here to learn more about how you can help us make a difference.