Food insecurity affects 1 in 6 children
Illustration: Getty Images
Most U.S. households have dependable access to quality food this holiday season, but many do not.
In fact, nearly 1 in 6 children in the U.S. live in households considered food insecure, characterized by disrupted eating patterns, reduced food intake and shortage of food in the house.
Why you should know: COVID-19 closed schools, crippled the job market, disrupted the supply chain and increased demand for food across the globe, increasing food insecurity in almost every country including the U.S.
The data says: COVID-19 supply chain disruptions have increased the severity of food insecurity for 821 million people in low-income countries that already spend most of their income on food.
- In 2020, more than 2.3 billion people (roughly 30% of the global population) lacked year-round access to adequate food.
- The same year, 10.5% of U.S. households were considered food insecure.
- From 2019 to 2020, food insecurity in households with children increased from 13.6% to 14.8%.
Leidos impact: When COVID-19 suspended large gatherings and closed schools in Northern Virginia, the Leidos Mission Solutions operation partnered with Generosity Feeds to launch an initiative to provide children with food resources. Through the program held in Herndon, Va., 4,200 meals and 382 pounds of food resources were distributed during the 2020-2021 school year.
From the sources:
- “It was an incredible opportunity for Leidos employees to engage with our local community,” said Victoria Trammel, Deputy Program Manager for Leidos Mission Solutions. “Our goal is to provide a measurable, multi-generational impact in the lives of these kids, their families and the greater community.”
- “Through this journey, we have discovered the value of decreasing food insecurity is more than just giving children healthy food,” writes the founders of Generosity Feeds, which works to feed hungry children in every county across America. “It involves mobilizing people into a lifestyle of generosity.”
Leidos also partners with Reston, Va. nonprofit Cornerstones, which in 2020 stocked the pantries of 5,547 households with healthy food and distributed more than 21,000 bags of food to families suffering from food insecurity.
Please contact the Leidos media relations team for more information.
Related:
