A Season of Giving Fighting Food Insecurity Across Northwest Florida by Kelly Oden and Nicole Willis
In recent years, putting food on the table has become increasingly difficult for many families.
Associate Executive Director of Manna Food Bank, Kerri Smayda does not expect these increases to slow down. “Families will continue to find it difficult to feed their families the right quantity and quality of food due to this economic climate,” she said.
While the onset of the COVID pandemic brought a temporary respite through additional food benefits, stimulus disbursements and expanded social services, the termination of these benefits, coupled with rising housing costs and the high price of inflation on all consumer goods, particularly food, has made 2023 an exceptionally difficult year for those grappling with food insecurity.
In fact, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), overall food prices were 3.7 percent higher in September 2023 than in September 2022. Food prices are expected to grow more slowly in 2023 than in 2022 but still at above historically average rates according to the USDA Food Price Outlook for 2023 and 2024. In 2024, all food prices (including both at home and away from home food) are predicted to increase 2.9 percent.
Within Escambia County, food insecurity rates hold steady at levels equal to or worse than state and national averages, both in the overall age category and among children. According to the 2021 data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap, 17.9 percent of children in Escambia County experience food insecurity, surpassing the rates in Florida (14.3 percent) and the United States (12.8 percent). The overall food insecurity rate in Escambia County stands at 11.6 percent, exceeding the rates for Florida (10.6 percent) and the United States (10.4 percent). And there seems to be no end in sight. At home food prices jumped 13.5 percent from 2021 into 2022—the largest annual increase since May 1979, according to data released in September 2022 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These increases have contributed to and are expected to continue creating an increase in food insecurity for children and families.
While food insecurity remains a year-round issue, its impact intensifies during the holiday season, causing deeper financial and emotional strain. The holidays, synonymous with bountiful feasts, pose a considerable challenge for families struggling to provide even basic meals on a daily basis. As the festive season approaches, we urge you to consider supporting local charities committed to alleviating hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. While we've highlighted a few notable organizations, there are numerous other nonprofits throughout our community working toward the same cause. Find one that speaks to you and make this a true season of giving.
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