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In Liberal Massachusetts
I had to quickly refocus myself when the report from The Greater Boston Food Bank appeared in the Boston Globe. I don’t have access to the Globe, but the information about hunger in this generally well-to-do state with many liberal social policies shocked me. I’m located in a fairly comfortable environment in the western part of the state, but there are areas not far away where the same conditions exist. It’s difficult to imagine the hunger of adults and children when hunger has never been a personal issue.
Yes, reports indicate that approximately one in three adults in Massachusetts experiences food insecurity (highlighting in AI original). This means they have limited or uncertain access to adequate food. The issue is widespread, affecting all counties in the state, and is particularly concerning among households with children, according to a report from The Greater Boston Food Bank.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Prevalence:
Studies consistently show that about 33% of adults in Massachusetts face food insecurity.Impact on Households with Children:
A significant number of households with children report child-level food insecurity, meaning children have gone hungry or missed meals due to a lack of food.Causes:
High food costs, inflation, and the rising cost of living are major factors contributing to food insecurity in Massachusetts.
Strategies to Cope:
Households experiencing food insecurity often rely on strategies like borrowing from family or friends, selling personal belongings, or purchasing the cheapest available food.Need for Assistance:
Many households report that current assistance programs like SNAP and WIC are not sufficient to meet their needs.Ongoing Crisis:
Despite the end of the pandemic-era public health emergency, the food insecurity crisis in Massachusetts persists, with some reports indicating that the situation may be worsening.
I read a recent report that I’m unable to cite formally on eating out that noted people buying a single strip of pizza and taking it out themselves rather than having pizza delivered with the added delivery cost and cost of a tip. Although the latter is a poor gauge of hunger, all of the variables noted in the Greater Boston Food Bank’s report point to the weakness of social supports for the most basic needs: food, and especially hunger among children. Schools do offer some support with many schools offering free breakfast and lunch programs, but still this basic human need remains unmet among a large number of people in Massachusetts.