The reality of food insecurity

Here are 5 statistics used to demonstrate that hunger is worsening in NYC: 500,000 Number of unemployed in October 2020) – But that official figure doesn’t take into account all of the people who stopped looking for jobs or are underemployed. 13.3 million Pounds of food City Harvest distributed in October 2020 -City Harvest, one of the biggest food distributors, gave out 429,000 pounds of food a day last month, more than twice as much as this time last year.

250,000 Users on a food pantry app (according to the Council of Peoples Organization food pantry) – The Plentiful app makes appointments for people to pick up food from pantries and soup kitchens. From March to October, there was a 50 percent increase in users compared to last year 7x New food pantry visitors from Corona, Queens – Corona, one of the areas hardest hit by the virus, saw a spike in people relying on food pantries for the first time compared to last year, based on Plentiful data. 67 percent increase in food stamp applications (October 2020) – Applications jumped from March through September, compared to the same period last year.

Social service agencies are trying to direct people to use food stamps, which allow them to purchase food in grocery stores. Choose one statistic that you found particularly powerful. Why did this number stand out? How does that number help you better understand the reality of food insecurity in New York City? (Include a response with your submission) 2. Answer the following question in two (2) to three (3) paragraphs: What are some of the reasons people have started going to food banks? How have the families experimented with cooking and preserving cultural traditions through the dishes they have made with the food pantry items? Do you believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and/ or enhanced the food insecurity faced by American families and why?