The Meal Gap is the space between food security and insecurity. Feeding America has done the research, using community-level data to determine the food needs in each county. Food insecurity means a lack of consistent access to enough nutritionally adequate food to lead a healthy, active life.
Every county in central Alabama has residents who do not qualify for Federal Nutrition Assistance, but still experience food insecurity. Moreover, many people who qualify for federal assistance still experience need on a regular basis. The only place they can turn to for help is the Community Food Bank and our partners.
Over 229,000 adults and 66,000 children in central Alabama live in homes with access to adequate food (2021 numbers). That’s 1 in 4 children and 1 in 5 people who experience hunger on a regular basis. Additionally, over 35,000 children fall within the meal gap – they do not qualify for federal nutrition aid (SNAP), and they would fall through the cracks without help from the Community Food Bank.
Learn more about these gaps in central Alabama from the latest Map the Meal Gap Report.