Food Insecurity Across Northwest Missouri & Northeast Kansas

Before learning about food insecurity across our region, we invite you to read this piece published by Feeding America.

According to the 2024 Map the Meal Gap update, provided by Feeding America to each of their 200+ partner food banks, every county in the United States is currently facing food insecurity. This alarming statistic highlights the nature of hunger and the challenges that many individuals and families encounter when trying to access nutritious food. Food insecurity is an official term by the USDA defined as a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. What does that mean for our neighbors in Missouri and Kansas?

The overall rate for our service area has risen from 11% to 16% in the past three years. Residents in our region are dealing with the reality of not knowing where their next meal will come from. This uncertainty can have immediate effects on physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. For families with children food insecurity can hinder a child's development and educational performance.

As we consider the 2024 Map the Meal Gap findings, it becomes clear that addressing food insecurity needs immediate action. By coming together as a community to support one another, we can ensure everyone in Missouri and Kansas has the resources they need to thrive.

44,000 of your neighbors, including 12,400 children, are uncertain where their next meal is coming from.

This Hunger Action Month, we invite you to join the cause.

1. Contribute to the cause by donating at shcfb.org.

2. Register for a volunteer shift. Contact jgallegos@shcfb.org to learn more about availability.

3. Become an advocate. Share our social media posts to highlight the increasing demand for assistance.

Andrew County

Population: 18,000

1 in 8 face food insecurity. That means 2,330 people overall.

1 in 6 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 700 kids in Andrew County.

Atchison County, Missouri

Population: 5,100

1 in 6 face food insecurity. That means 860 people overall.

1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 220 kids in Atchison County.

Atchison County, Kansas

Population: 16,200

1 in 6 face food insecurity. That means 2,530 people overall.

1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 770 kids in Atchison County.

Brown County

Population: 9,300

1 in 6 face food insecurity. That means 1,550 people overall.

1 in 4 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 520 kids in Brown County.

Buchanan County

Population: 83,500

1 in 5 face food insecurity. That means 16,000 people overall.

1 in 4 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 4,500 kids in Buchanan County.

Caldwell County

Population: 8,900

1 in 7 face food insecurity. That means 1,300 people overall.

1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 400 kids in Caldwell County.

Clinton County

Population: 21,400

1 in 6 face food insecurity. That means 3,500 people overall.

1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 1,000 kids in Clinton County.

Daviess County

Population: 8,500

1 in 6 face food insecurity. That means 1,300 people overall.

1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 400 kids in Daviess County.

DeKalb County

Population: 10,900

1 in 6 face food insecurity. That means 1,600 people overall.

1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 400 kids in DeKalb County.

Doniphan County

Population: 7,500

1 in 7 face food insecurity. That means 1,000 people overall.

1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 300 kids in Doniphan County.

Gentry County

Population: 6,200

1 in 5 face food insecurity. That means 1,100 people overall.

1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 300 kids in Gentry County.

Grundy County

Population: 9,800

1 in 5 face food insecurity. That means 1,800 people overall.

1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 500 kids in Grundy County.

Harrison County

Population: 8,200

1 in 5 face food insecurity. That means 1,700 people overall.

1 in 4 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 500 kids in Harrison County.

Holt County

Population: 4,200

1 in 6 face food insecurity. That means 700 people overall.

1 in 4 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 200 kids in Holt County.

Livingston County

Population: 14,300

1 in 6 face food insecurity. That means 2,400 people overall.

1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 650 kids in Livingston County.

Mercer County

Population: 3,500

1 in 6 face food insecurity. That means 600 people overall.

1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 200 kids in Mercer County.

Nodaway County

Population: 20,800

1 in 6 face food insecurity. That means 3,500 people overall.

1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 700 kids in Nodaway County.

Worth County

Population: 2,000

1 in 5 face food insecurity. That means 400 people overall.

1 in 4 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. That's nearly 100 kids in Worth County.

Together, we can fight hunger in Northwest Missouri & Northeast Kansas.