Next meal elusive for hundreds of thousands of needy in D.C. area – The Washington Post

More than 400,000 Washington area residents experienced periods of hunger and empty cupboards during the recession, including tens of thousands living in some of the country’s most affluent counties, according to a new study released Thursday.

Statistics like this are sometimes hard to believe.  The interactive study paid for by Feeding America is a great way to put into perspective the shortfalls individuals and families face trying to put food on the table.  The index measures the level of “Food Security” in the United States. Food Insecurity is the the state of, or risk of, being unable to provide food (to oneself, or family.  According to the index, Washington, D.C. has a food insucurity rate of 15.8%, or 93,180 people.  Although there is a link between food insecurity and poverty, many individuals and families that are considered food insecure are actually not considered impoverished. 

The study, “Map the Meal Gap,” used Agriculture Department, 2010 Census and unemployment data for a sweeping county-by-county portrait of hunger in America

By donating to charity organizations committed to easy the problem of hunger in the area is a great way to help. 

via Next meal elusive for hundreds of thousands of needy in D.C. area – The Washington Post.