SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Feeding America’s latest Map the Meal Gap study shows that 1 in 5 children and 1 in 6 adults continue to face hunger in Ozarks Food Harvest’s service area, which covers a third of the state of Missouri. Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri.
Map the Meal Gap, now in its 15th year, is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district. The study builds upon the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) most recent report of national and state data, which showed 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the highest rate in more than a decade.
Rural communities in Ozarks Food Harvest’s service area experience even higher levels of food insecurity compared to urban areas. For example, 1 in 4 children face hunger in Vernon, Howell, Barton, Texas, Ozark, and Oregon county.
As hunger rates remain high and the demand for food increases, Ozarks Food Harvest is set to lose an estimated $3 million worth of food this year due to USDA cuts. The Food Bank is asking the community for help so children, families, and seniors can continue to access food without interruption.
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