More Than 53 Million People Received Help From Food Banks and Food Pantries in 2021

Feeding America, the nationwide network of 200 food banks, 21 statewide associations and 60,000 partner food pantries and meal programs, today published a new report highlighting its latest Charitable Food Participation Estimate measuring the number of people who received help from the charitable food sector, of which the Feeding America network comprises a large portion. The report finds that more than 53 million people turned to food banks, food pantries and meal programs for help in 2021, one-third more than prior to the pandemic.

“While we, as a country, are in a better position today than two years ago, with the availability of vaccines and with unemployment rates rebounding, the pandemic showed us that too many people live on the brink of food and financial insecurity. In addition, we know that some communities experience food insecurity more deeply than others and that it exists in every county, parish and borough in the U.S.,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America.