US News & World Report: Prof. Lombe Shares Expertise on Food Insecurity
Food prices increased significantly just as pandemic-era benefits, like extra money from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), came to an end. As a result, many families are struggling to afford food. Prof. Margaret Lombe at BU School of Social Work told US News & World Report that “it is highly unlikely that we will see a break in the rising food costs in the near future,” and offered several resources for people experiencing food insecurity.
Excerpt from “How Much Should I Spend on Groceries?” (U.S. News & World Report) by Geoff Williams:
Lombe says that ‘food security in the U.S. was relatively high at the outset of the pandemic; it was just beginning to return to post recession rates.’
Lombe says that the data that she has seen suggests that ‘food insecurity has increased considerably among the working poor, families with children, older adults, rural communities and communities of color.’
If you are struggling to put food on the table, because you can’t afford to fill the pantry, Zydonik says that along with food banks, you probably have a lot of community resources available to help that you may not be aware of.
‘Many of these resources can be found with apps like FindHelp.org, 211, and others. Organizations such as the Salvation Army, Saint Vincent de Paul, community centers, YMCA’s and houses of worship often have programs designed to help empower people as they get back on their feet,’ Zydonik says.
Lombe suggests some of the same avenues that Zydonik does and adds Meals on Wheels being an option for senior citizens, local churches and USDA’s Hunger Hotline (1-866-3-HUNGRY) for information on community-based emergency food providers and other resources.”