Wednesday March 15, 2023
ANALYSIS: Food Insecurity in the George Washington Region | SURVEY | PUBLICATION
ANALYSIS: SNAP Goes Food Security in Fredericksburg Area
At the end of February, SNAP extended benefits that were allotted in March 2020 to help those in poverty secure food are expiring. In real dollars, that translates to about $95 a month for many families, according to Food and Nutrition Services at the United States Department of Agriculture.
The real tragedy of this decision to end SNAP extended benefits is that in so acting, it also hurts the overall U.S. economy, and the economy of our rural communities.
A letter released on March 14 by Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), and signed by Abigail Spanberger (D-7), outlines what removing these benefits means.
Over the next decade, SNAP spending will continue to support a robust national economy by returning $1.50 for each additional dollar spent in a recovering economy, and by generating hundreds of thousands of jobs in grocery, transportation, manufacturing, and other industries. Further, SNAP’s outsized economic impact in rural communities will help to ensure that economic recovery does not leave these communities behind; SNAP spending is shown to increase rural economic output annually by 1.25 percent and rural employment by 1.18 percent and to have a stronger impact on poverty in rural counties than non-rural counties.
The real problem, of course, is that reductions in SNAP benefits will have negative consequences for people who depend on these to feed themselves and their families. Fredericksburg and its surrounding counties will not be spared.
Fredericksburg Planning District 16 to Be Particularly Hard Hit
The pressure this reduction in funds creates is sure to put more stress on organizations in the greater Fredericksburg area dedicated to ensuring that families have enough to eat.
A new report just issued by the Fredericksburg Regional Hunger Action Coalition offers a sobering look at just how bad the problem of hunger in our region.
Last July, $8.2 million in SNAP benefits were distributed to 44,111 people. Even with this assistance, however, the report also notes that more than 23,000 people in our region suffer food insecurity.
That insecurity is not evenly distributed, as demonstrated by the following map of food insecurity in our area. (Note: All graphics are from the HAC report and reprinted with permission. These maps were created by Marstel-Day.)
Southern Spotsylvania County, Northern Caroline County, Southern Stafford County, and the city of Fredericksburg are the areas facing the greatest challenges in this regard.
The darker colors drive home that food insecurity is not isolated. But a closer look offers a more-disturbing picture. The map allow users to drill down to the level of census tracts to examine food insecurity in their local area.
Census tract 204.05 in Southwest Spotsylvania, for example, faces significant issues around food insecurity. Among its almost 3,300 citizens in 2020, there were some 11,700 meals distributed, but the total need was for more than 49,900 meals.
The problem, of course, is more than just having the meals to distribute. And this is where the report makes clear the enormity of the challenge the area faces.
If your view of the number of organizations working to address hunger in the area is the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, think again. The HAC is composed of more than 30 local, regional, and state organizations that work together to meet this need.
But for all their good work, significant gaps in meeting the food security needs of our region exist.
The reasons for this are many. But certainly one of the greatest is transportation. Our regional bus system, while helpful, isn’t expansive enough to reach the areas of greatest nutritional need.
It Takes All of Us
The report does offer positive news. It’s not a reactive study announcing the problem, it’s a proactive study that reflects the ways the network of providers in our area are working to address the problem.
The study highlights some of these efforts, like that at Germanna Community College where nearly one-third of all students report food security issues. The GCC Food Pantry is helping address their needs, and the school also offers a simple screening tool that allows students to quickly identify what services they qualify for.
There’s also a role for each of us.
Dan Maher, president of the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, tells F2S that there are two simple things everyone can do to help their neighbors in need.
One is deepening their awareness of FredFoodVA, the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank’s app that can help make anyone capable of steering someone in need to local food resources (where food distribution sites are, when they operate, and how to contact them). Secondly, volunteerism and financial donations are the best ways to personally engage with activities that can reduce food insecurity. Either volunteering for or donating to the regional Food Bank or a localized food pantry in their community.
Hunger is a struggle that can be difficult to spot. But as this report shows, many people in our community struggle with food insecurity (as much as 15% of people in some census tract areas).
As we move into spring, take some time to lend a hand to those helping those most in need.
SURVEY: Spring Is Coming
There’s so much to see and do in our region. With the weather starting to warm (well, sort of), what are you most looking forward to doing again outdoors? Have other ideas? Send them to me at editoratf2s@gmail.com.
PUBLICATION
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