Our view: Help combat food insecurity in Cass County

Food insecurity can be hard to spot with the eyes, but it is unfortunately prevalent in Cass County, according to findings by Feeding America.

The organization’s annual Map the Meal Gap concluded that 15.2% of people in Cass County are experiencing food insecurity, or 1 in 7 people. Of that group, 17.9% are children, meaning roughly 1 in 6 children are experiencing food insecurity on the county.

According to Feeding America’s study, the extra amount of money that people facing hunger said they need to have enough food reached its highest point in the last 20 years. At the local level, the study found that over 84,000 people in Food Finders Food Bank’s 16-county service area, which includes Cass County, are food insecure.

How can we help combat food insecurity? Here are some tips from Feeding America:

? Donate non-perishable food items to a local food pantry or participate in a food drive.

? Volunteer at local pantries or soup kitchens.

? Donate to hunger organizations and fundraisers

? Start your own fundraiser and donate the funds to a local pantry or food bank.

? Encourage local elected officials to support food banks.

With so many children also experiencing food insecurity, it’s important for parents to talk with their kids about the issue as well. The conversation will be different depending on the age, and parents should avoid using terms such as “poorer than” or “less well off.”

More than 13 million children faced hunger in 2022 and the 2023 numbers are projected to grow once released, according to Feeding America.

According to the USDA, one in every five children is unsure where they will get their next meal. Black and Latino children are twice as likely to face hunger, and households with a single parent are 33% more likely to face hunger.

To learn how food insecurity impacts your community, visit FeedingAmerica.org/MaptheMealGap. For more information about Food Finders Food Bank, visit www.food-finders.org/. Emmaus Mission Center (www.logan-emmaus.org/food-pantry/) and the Logansport Salvation Army (centralusa.salvationarmy.org/logansport/events/food-pantry/) also have food pantries in the county.