{"id":25492,"date":"2025-11-18T23:25:47","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T23:25:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecocycle.org\/?p=25492"},"modified":"2025-11-20T13:55:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T13:55:23","slug":"food-insecurity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecocycle.org\/food-insecurity\/","title":{"rendered":"The Intersection of Food Insecurity and Climate, and How You Can Take Action"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the past few months, there has been a great deal of news coverage regarding the status of food assistance programs in the US designed to prevent hunger. Read on to learn the many different ways that YOU can help your community stay fed and healthy.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For decades\u2014starting back in 1939 with the launch of the nation\u2019s first food stamp program<\/a>\u2014federal funds have been allocated to helping Americans cover food costs and reduce hunger and food insecurity through the US Food and Nutrition Service’s program, what we now call “SNAP” (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, 42 million Americans are eligible for SNAP assistance\u2014about 1 in 8 individuals<\/a>. A high proportion of these recipients are children. Fortunately, SNAP benefits are now restored, and our neighbors who rely on this program to keep their families fed will be able to receive their benefits once more. But the food insecurity problem, both in our country and globally, goes much deeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the US, up to 40% of our food goes to waste<\/a> every year. Combatting food insecurity is not only an aspect of social justice, it lies at the intersection of social and climate justice. The fact is that our diets and consumer choices around food have a major impact<\/a> on the planet and its people. If our society were to waste less food, and prioritize creating a food system that works in right relationship with the Earth, we would:<\/p>\n\n\n\n