Imagine reaching the end of the week with an empty fridge and bills still waiting. For millions of households, that is not an imagined problem: the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that 18 million U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2023, meaning they had difficulty at some point providing enough food for everyone in the household. The report was released in September 2024.
Behind that number are people making impossible choices between groceries, rent, medicine and other essentials. Food insecurity can touch neighbors of every age and background, often quietly.
Local help makes a difference
Across the country, food banks and pantries turn donations into groceries and meals close to home. Feeding America works through a nationwide network of food banks, food pantries and meal programs to help people facing hunger.
A box of pantry staples or a few hours spent sorting donations may seem small. For someone trying to stretch a grocery budget, that support can mean more food on the table and one less difficult choice to make.
One practical next step
Find a nearby food bank through Feeding America’s food bank locator. Before donating food, check with the local organization about what it needs most. You can also ask about volunteering or making a financial contribution.
Hunger is a large challenge, but help can begin close to home. A donation, a shift of your time or a conversation that connects someone to a pantry can help turn an empty shelf into a little more possibility.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Household Food Security in the United States in 2023.