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ELIZABETH CITY – The number of food-insecure people is rising in northeastern North Carolina at a time when programs funded at the Federal level are being threatened due to policy changes.

Food Bank of the Albemarle announced recently that new figures from Feeding America’s annual “Map the Meal Gap” study show that food insecurity has surged across the 15-county region the Food Bank serves.

In northeastern North Carolina, “Map the Meal Gap” finds

13,920 children (1 in 4) are food insecure in this region. The overall number of food-insecure individuals has risen 6.5% from 43,000 to 46,440 (1 in 6).

Food Bank of the Albemarle officials note that this rise in need for food assistance is happening concurrently with an uncertainty of proposed Federal cuts to essential safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid.

“We’re seeing increases in food insecurity across our region and decreases in funding and sources of food,” said Liz Reasoner, Executive Director of Food Bank of the Albemarle.

“Hunger remains an urgent crisis across the 15 counties we serve in Northeastern NC and we need our elected officials and everyone that supports the work of the Food Bank to advocate and help strengthen programs like SNAP, TEFAP, and CSFP, all which provide essential nutritious meals for over 46,000 of our neighbors,” Reasoner added. It was noted that U.S. House Republicans are proposing at least $230 billion in cuts to SNAP over the next decade. A decrease in funding and stricter work requirements, along with the rising costs of food, housing, transportation and utilities, would make it more difficult for North Carolinians to put meals on the table. The uncertainty of policy of critical Federal programs that people depend on, like SNAP (aka Food Stamps), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) means that less food will be reaching those that need it most.

SNAP (Food and Nutrition Services, FNS in NC) is a lifeline for individuals, children, families, seniors and veterans to be able to put food on the table and enables them to have the dignity of choice to purchase food. SNAP provides nine meals for every meal that Food Bank of the Albemarle can provide. Hunger relief programs cannot bridge the gap of missing meals if SNAP is cut, Reasoner said.

She noted that in 2024, Food Bank of the Albemarle distributed over 7 million meals within its service area. The Food Bank engages strategically with partner agencies to increase capacity and distribution. Investment in the Food Banks’s 100 hunger relief partners and 155 programs provides the resources to maximize and increase the number of opportunities for neighbors to access nutritious food.

CSFP’s proposed elimination would end the Food Bank’s monthly food support for 2,800 seniors that are currently served.

“That would irreparably harm our ability to provide the healthy meals they need,” Reasoner said. “Medicaid cuts could impact our healthcare partner programs and eliminate the planned statewide expansion of the Healthy Opportunities Pilot.

Among the food sources used by the Food Bank of the Albemarle, 37 percent comes from USDA programs (TEFAP, CSFP). 33,600 boxes of food (over 1 million meals) support over 2,800 seniors each year through CSFP.

Other sources are local retail partners, farmers, corporate donors, private donors, and food drives. Additional food is purchased to meet the local demand.

“We commit to providing access to nutritious food to address disparities and we work to ensure fair food distribution to serve all our neighbors across 15 counties in Northeastern NC,” Reasoner stated.

Meanwhile, the North Carolina Senate’s current draft budget excludes the $14 million request for food banks and the statewide expansion of the Healthy Opportunities Pilot. Reasoner noted that without this funding to offset federal cuts, food banks will be forced to make painful decisions around food purchasing, staffing, and program delivery.

“We are actively engaging both [North Carolina] Senate and House members to ensure this critical funding is put into the budget,” Reasoner said.

“Food Bank of the Albemarle and The Feeding America national network of food banks have the expertise, experience, and logistics to serve Northeastern NC,” Reasoner added. “We have the infrastructure and are prepared to address the challenges of hunger in our communities, and respectfully request that Food Bank of the Albemarle be included in policy discussions before any major changes are made to critical programs that help feed our neighbors. We’re eager to collaborate and be at the table when decisions are made about these programs.”

Reasoner said it is critical that supporters of the Food Bank’s mission contact their elected officials immediately and share the importance of this funding for Food Bank distributions and for individuals that rely on SNAP and USDA programs. Find resources and take action at:

www.afoodbank.org/give-back/advocacy

Food Bank of the Albemarle serves Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington counties.