Food insecurity affects more than 1 million in South Florida
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Food insecurity means that, at times during the year, a given household couldn't get enough food for one or more of its members because they didn't have enough money or resources.
What's happening: About 11.4% of Florida households were food insecure between 2020–2022, Axios' Emily Peck and Kavya Beheraj report.
- Looking at just 2022, the share of U.S. households that couldn't reliably afford food rose to 12.8% from 10.2% in 2021, per new U.S. Department of Agriculture data.
Why it matters: In Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, more than 1.2 million people are experiencing food insecurity this Thanksgiving, according to nonprofit Feeding South Florida.
Zoom in: Through its "Share Food. Share Joy" initiative, the nonprofit is aiming to provide 7,000 families with turkeys and sides.
- It's inviting people to chip in to the effort by Nov. 17. A $30 donation covers the cost of a turkey; $50 for a turkey with sides; and $100 can provide four turkeys to feed four families.
- The group also invites volunteers to host food drives, sort donated food at one of its facilities, or cook and pack meals at its community kitchen.
What they're saying: Those with "very low" food security eat less food or skip meals. In a house with children, the adults might go without so that the kids can eat.
- When times are tight, it can often be "easiest" to cut back on food, says Lisa Davis, a senior vice president at anti-poverty nonprofit Share Our Strength.
- "If you don't pay the rent or your mortgage, you don't have a place to live. If you don't put gas in the car, you can't get to work," Davis tells Axios.