THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE GOING HUNGRY.
We know it happens every day. Families without food to put on the table. Children wondering if there will be enough food for tomorrow. Seniors choosing between paying for food or medication. After the Harvest is making a real difference serving those primarily in Greater Kansas City–rescuing millions of pounds of fresh, nutritious produce to feed hungry people in our community.
It’s fresh produce that is often unavailable or unaffordable to many in our community.
The crisis of food insecurity in our region and nationwide due to the pandemic is far from over. Feeding America estimates that 43 million people in the U.S. won’t have enough food in 2021 (pre-pandemic–35 million).
HOW GREAT IS THE NEED IN OUR REGION?
For the 1 in 8 people in our region who are food insecure, there may be food in the household today, but there may not be food tomorrow. Or, there may not be enough food for everyone in the household.
OUR HUNGRY NEIGHBORS
Pre-coronavirus in our area:
• 303,820 people were food insecure and missing an estimated 51.4 million meals annually.
• 11.8 percent of people in our region, or one in eight, was food insecure.
• Children are often among those most in need of food. 93,090 children were food insecure.
• 15 percent of children under age 18 in our region, or one in seven, was food insecure.
Projected impact of coronavirus in 2021:
• 323,660 people may be food insecure due to the pandemic.
• That’s 12.4 percent of the area population, or one in eight people.
• For children, 99,360 may be food insecure due to the pandemic. That’s 16 percent of children under age 18 or one in six children.
THE FACE OF HUNGER IN OUR REGION MAY SURPRISE YOU.
Area agencies feed 141,500 different people each month and of those served:
- 25% are children.
- 20% are seniors.
- 49% have at least one adult who worked in the last year.
- 5% are homeless.
- 59% are white, 24% are African-American, 9% are Hispanic and the rest are from other racial and ethnic groups.
- 27% of households include at least one veteran of military service.
- 54% of households have had to choose between paying for food and paying the rent or mortgage.
- 63% of households have had to choose between paying for food or utilities.
–From “Hunger in America 2014”, Feeding America’s largest and most recent comprehensive study of hunger in our region and the nation.
GLEAN, GATHER, RESCUE—REPEAT.
As long as there’s hunger in our community, After the Harvest will continue to glean the fruits and vegetables left in farmer’s fields after the harvest and fundraise to bring in semi-truckloads to go to the people who need it most.
Note: Statistics are based on Harvesters–The Community Food Network’s 26-county service area. Harvesters distributes After the Harvest’s produce via our gleaning and truckload programs to agencies within their service area. After the Harvest also delivers directly to agencies via our gleaning program.
