Food Insecurity Worsens Across Iowa, Connecticut, Rochester, Canada

Recent data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap reports highlight a troubling rise in food insecurity across multiple U.S. states. In Iowa, approximately 12% of residents and 16.6% of children face food insecurity, with rates for Black and Hispanic populations being significantly higher than for white residents. Connecticut is also experiencing an increase, with one in seven residents, or 14.3%, food insecure, and federal funding cuts exacerbating challenges faced by food banks. Similarly, the Rochester region has seen a 40% increase in food assistance requests in 2024, with ongoing federal cuts reducing food supplies and grocery prices climbing. These trends underscore growing hunger and the strain on local food aid organizations, emphasizing the need for sustained support and policy interventions to address rising food insecurity nationwide.