Yes! You can find updated medical research and news articles on how food insecurity affects health and local economies.
Adults face diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, depression, and anxiety. Children and teens deal with poor school performance, behavioral and developmental issues, depression, suicidal thoughts, brittle bones, and anemia, in addition to obesity and diabetes.
When adults are well nourished, they are able to better perform at their jobs and in society. When children are well nourished, they do better at school. Hunger is about much more than an empty stomach, because it affects the entire community.
No matter how much time you have, you can make a difference. The first step to ending hunger and food insecurity is education. Share content from our Facebook page with your network. Tell others in your community about our initiatives. And whenever you’re able, join a Workgroup to help stop hunger in Smith County.
Check out our 5 key areas of focus and join a Workgroup that best meets your expertise, interests, and skills. Email the Workgroup to join the council.
If you are looking for immediate access to food, head to our Community Food Resources page where you can find a list of food pantries and other organizations that can help.
There are 43,000 adults and 13,000 children in Smith County that don’t have regular access to food. That’s 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 4 children.
People from all walks of life are affected by food insecurity and hunger. Some high-risk groups include large families with many children, immigrant families, and families headed by single women. People with disabilities, those with less education, and those who live in rural areas are also affected.
We help anyone in Smith County that requires access to food.
Food insecurity occurs when people don’t have adequate or consistent access to food that is required to live a healthy and active life.