Despite being one of the richest countries in the world, America has a stubborn problem that hits closer to home than one might think: food insecurity.
Food insecurity means a lack of consistent access to nutritious, affordable food. Last year, 1 in 10 households were food insecure, according to the Department of Agriculture. This has implications for our health, economy and society as a whole.
A child facing hunger is more likely to have challenges in school, affecting them into adulthood. Young adults who lack access to nutritious food are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and sleep problems. And people who are food insecure suffer disproportionately from chronic diseases like diabetes and HIV/AIDS.