New data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study shows the food insecurity continues to rise across Missouri, underscoring the challenges many families face as the cost of everyday essentials remains high. According to the latest data, nearly 1 million Missourians experienced food insecurity in 2024, an increase from the previous year.
Readers can explore the national, state, and local findings through Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap website: https://map.feedingamerica.org/
While inflation has slowed, the cost of food remains significantly higher than it was just a few years ago. Between 2020 and 2024, food prices increased by nearly 24% while costs for housing, transportation, utilities, and health care also continued to climb. As a result, many families are being forced to make difficult choices between food and other necessities. At the same time, food banks are navigating many of the same challenges as the families they serve, including higher food, transportation, and operational costs.
“Food insecurity is not the result of a single challenge,” said Leigh Anne Haun, executive director of Feeding Missouri. “It is often the combination of higher costs, economic uncertainty, and difficult tradeoffs that families face every day.”
Despite the growing need, Missouri’s charitable food network remains committed to ensuring families can access nutritious food close to home. Food banks are working alongside local pantries, schools, health care providers, faith-based organizations, businesses, and volunteers to expand food access and strengthen community support systems.
“The single greatest need right now is continued community investment,” Haun said. “It takes donors, volunteers, businesses, community organizations, and policymakers working together to ensure Missouri families have access to nutritious food.”
The Map the Meal Gap findings serve as an important reminder that hunger exists in every Missouri community. By working together and investing in proven hunger-relief efforts, we can help ensure all Missourians have reliable access to the food they need to thrive.