54 million Americans on the brink of starvation: where to go for help

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating food insecurity across the country, and 54 million Americans may soon face hunger. Writes about it CNN.

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“What we've seen is, unfortunately, a sustained level of significantly increased need for food since the pandemic began,” said Kathy Fitzgerald, chief operating officer of Feeding America.

Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, says more than 54 million people in the country may soon face food insecurity. That's 17 million more than before the coronavirus outbreak. The number of appeals to the non-profit organization has increased by 60% since March.

“About 40% of the people who came to the food distribution had never relied on charitable food assistance before,” Fitzgerald noted.

“People are really trying to figure out how they can get help to feed themselves and their families,” she explained. - This is a basic need. Every person should know that when he wakes up in the morning, he will have something to eat.”

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This crisis in access to food threatens to exacerbate the already apparent health imbalances in vulnerable populations, including low-income families, children and the elderly.

USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) maintains a National Hunger Hotline to connect people with local food companies such as food outlets, food banks, and other social services.

You can reach them by calling toll-free 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (Spanish) to speak with a representative. You can also send text message 97779 with a question containing a keyword such as food, and an automatic response will indicate resources near your address or zip code.

USDA uses, among other things, interactive mapcalled Finding Food Resources for Children to help children and parents find nearby places to eat easily. The web app allows users to enter an address, city, state, or zip code to find about 50 nearby establishments with hours of operation.

Nonprofit food distribution organizations

Feeding America operates a network of 200 food banks, 60 food pantries and nutrition programs in every county in the United States, including Puerto Rico and Washington, DC. In light of the pandemic, the nonprofit and its affiliates have various options with low or no-touch access. These include senior-only times, storage rooms that can only be reached by car, and advanced home delivery services. Enter your zip code or state in grocery bank search engineto find a location closest to you.

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food finder is a mobile and web app that helps disadvantaged children and their families find free food assistance programs near their homes.

foodpantries.org has a national database of pantries of food resources.

Action Little free pantry is a mass initiative. Community members create small pantries with boxes, canned goods and other food that those in need can use. This organization operates throughout the United States, providing 24/7 access to food and other essentials. Use their interactive map to find their locations.

Meals on Wheels helps people with disabilities aged 60 and over. You can find the nearest branch here — enter your postal code.

The Salvation Army operates both a food warehouse and various catering programs across the country. Click here, enter your zip code and select emergency services to determine what they can provide you.

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WhyHunger launched crowdsourced cardto help people find free food sites in the US.

Additional Federal Food Aid Resources

There are several federal programs to help make ends meet during these difficult times.

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as food stamps, is a federal program that provides food assistance to people with low and no income. You can find out if you're eligible and contact your local food bank hereto get help with your application.

WIC programs (women and infants) provide healthy complementary nutrition to low-income pregnant women and children under 5 years of age. Contact your state WIC office to see if you are eligible and apply.

The 2020 Coronavirus Response Act provides for the use of EBT in the COVID-19 pandemic (P-EBT). The program provides funding for families who need emergency meals during a pandemic. More information on the participating states can be found here.

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