A new report released by Feeding America shines a light on how urgent the hunger crisis is across New Jersey and the nation.
The Map the Meal Gap 2015 study shows food insecurity can be found in every county and every congressional district in America. Here in New Jersey, almost 1 in 5 children might not know where their next meal is coming from.
Among the key findings: more than 1.1 million people in New Jersey face hunger, including almost 400,000 kids. New Jersey’s overall food insecurity rate remains high, at 12.4%. Even more alarming, the rate is 18.3% for children.
The report confirms the high price of food in New Jersey. The average cost of a meal in the state is almost 4% higher than the national average.
Atlantic County, home to thousands of laid-off casino workers, has been hit particularly hard, with a food insecurity rate of 15%, and a child food insecurity rate of 22%.
Take a look at the Feeding America report to get a closer look at the local face of hunger.