New York organizations looking to combat food insecurity as issue grows
The mayor's Office of Food Policy reported that 1.2 million New Yorkers were food insecure in 2022.
One in five children are living in a food insecure household, according to a report from the USDA economic research service.
This national crisis is a growing problem and nonprofits such as No Kid Hungry New York say it's hard to identify.
"We often say hunger hides in plain site," said Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York. "Towards the end of the week, when the cupboards are getting bare, it may mean that a family member, a caregiver are skipping meals so that they're able to give more food to their child."
The Mayor's Office of Food Policy reported that 1.2 million New Yorkers were food-insecure in 2022. The Bronx has the highest rate of food insecurity at 19.7% and Brooklyn followed at 15.5%.
Nonprofits like Masbia said their goal is to provide food services to as many people as they can in response to rising food insecurity.
"The emergency lies with us at the food pantry, at the soup kitchen, so the food pantries and the soup kitchens are the backbones in every scenario," said Alexander Rapaport, executive director of Masbia.
USDA's research shows nearly 13% of U.S. households were food insecure last year, a jump from just over 10% the year before.
