Most of us are used to three meals a day and plenty of snacks in between, but a sizable portion of Chattooga County’s population is considered “food insecure”, meaning there are many who struggle to know where their next meal is coming from.  Unfortunately, many of those are children.

Feeding America says that the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in food insecurity in Chattooga County.  In 2019, an estimated 15% of the population here in Chattooga County were considered food insecure.  That number rose to an estimated 18% in 2020.  Numbers have not been released yet for 2021.

Of the number of people considered to be food insecure, 53% are below the SNAP threshold of 130% poverty.  Those numbers are alarming to many who may not realize that there are over 3,700 people in our county who struggle to find daily nutrition.

There are many organizations in Chattooga County that are working to bridge the gap and make sure that there is food for those in need.  Several area churches provide monthly free food distributions.  Many of those churches are affiliated with There’s Hope for the Hungry.   A program at Chattooga High School provides meal backpacks for students that need food over the weekend when school breakfast and lunch are not available. Also, CRC of Chattooga County provides regular food distributions.

Feeding America says that it would take around $1.8 million in resources each year to make sure that everyone in Chattooga County has enough to eat.

CRC of Chattooga County says that one in five children in Chattooga County are in need of food.  If you would like to donate to CRC and help with their mission, you can find out more here.