Facts and Stats

Hunger By the Numbers.

These facts and statistics show just how widespread hunger is here. And how it affects everyone, not just those who are food insecure.

What is Food Insecurity?

Food insecurity refers to USDAs measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods.

Georgia Statistics*

 Rates (pre-covid)
People who are food insecure 1,2 13% (1 in 8)
People in the Food Bank’s 29-county service area who are food insecure 1,2 11% (1 in 9)
Children who are food insecure 1,2 16% (1 in 6)
Children in the Food Bank’s 29-county service area who are food insecure 1,2 14% (1 in 7)
Seniors (age 60 and older) who are food insecure 3 8% (1 in 13)
People who participate in SNAP 4,6 15% (1 in7)
People who are food insecure and above 185% of the federal poverty line, making them ineligible for food assistance programs 1 36%

National Statistics*

 2018 Rate
People who are food insecure 1,2 12% (1 in 8)
Children who are food insecure 1,2 17% (1 in 6)
Seniors (age 60 and older) who are food insecure 3 7% (1 in14)
People who participate in SNAP 5,6 13% (1 in 8)
People who are food insecure and above 185% of the federal poverty line, making them ineligible for food assistance programs 1 35%

General Food Bank Statistics

(see below for pandemic-related updates)

  • The Food Bank distributed 78+ million pounds of food and grocery products in FY 2019-20
  • 22% of food and grocery items distributed by the Food Bank in FY 2019-20 was fresh produce. Including meat proteins, 45% of the food distributed was perishable (vs. shelf stable).
  • In a typical year, over 30,000 volunteers serve over 110,000 hours in support of the Food Bank’s mission.
  • The Food Bank works with over 700 partner agencies that directly distribute food to clients in 29 counties.

 

Covid-19 Pandemic Related Statistics

  • The Food Bank has seen a 300% increase in inquiries from people seeking food assistance.
  • Due to increased demand related to the economic effects of the covid-19 pandemic, the Food Bank is distributing between 30% & 40% more food each week than the same period one year ago.
  • Mobile pantries: 4.1 million pounds of food was distributed via special COVID-19 mobile pantries.
  • Since May, the Food Bank has received 11.4 Million lbs. of fresh food, including dairy, produce and proteins, from the USDA’s Farm to Food Bank program.
  1. Gundersen, C., A. Dewey, E. Engelhard, M. Strayer & L. Lapinski. Map the Meal Gap 2020: A Report on County and Congressional District Food Insecurity and County Food Cost in the United States in 2018. Feeding America, 2020.
  2. Feeding America Research Team. The Impact of Corona Virus on Local Food Insecurity. Feeding America, 2020. https://feedingamerica.sharepoint.com/fsop/dr/COVID19/research/Local%20projections%20-%20FAQs-5.15.20.pdf
  3. Ziliak, J., Gundersen, C. The State of Senior Hunger in America in 2018. Feeding America, 2020.
  4. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2018, by Kathryn Cronquist. Project Officer, Jenny Genser White. Alexandria, VA, 2019.
  5. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP Data Tables, National Level Annual Summary, 2018.
  6. U.S. Census Bureau (2020). ACS 2018 5-Year Estimates, Age & Sex, State Level, Table S0101.
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