REGION — More than 351,000 people, or 12 percent of the population in the New York State-based Regional Food Bank’s 23-county service area, are food insecure, meaning that they don’t always know where their next meal is coming from, according to new research by Feeding America’s annual “Map the Meal Gap” study on food insecurity. A staggering one in every six children in the region experience food insecurity. 

The numbers are from 2024, the most recent for which data is available.

The new data shows that 98,890 children in the Regional Food Bank’s service area in New York are unable to access the food they need to live a healthy life. These numbers represent an increase of 4,770 children from the previous year.

Across the border in Wayne County, PA, those figures total 1,820 kids, or 21.7 percent of all minors. In Pike, it’s 1,810 and 17.3 percent.

(For adults as well as children in the River Reporter’s region, see “By the Numbers” at far right.)

“The challenges we are facing, as well as our partners in the charitable food industry have faced in recent months, are truly unprecedented,” said Tom Nardacci, CEO of the Regional Food Bank in New York State. “With federal cuts to the USDA, the SNAP crisis and increasing inflation, our more than 1,000 partner agencies are witnessing longer lines and greater demand. The generosity of industry partners, businesses, groups and organizations, volunteers and our neighbors allowed us to hold the line of food insecurity rates among adults at 12 percent, but we need more help from our community to meet the demand for our children.”

Among children in the Hudson Valley, 53,390 or 16.3 percent (1 in 6) lack access to the food they need to grow, learn and thrive. That is an increase of over 5,000 children from the previous year. 

“Map the Meal Gap,” now in its 16th year, is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs at the national, state, county and local levels. The study builds upon USDA’s most recent report of national and state data, which showed 52.5 million people, including 15.3 million children, are experiencing food insecurity. 

“Map the Meal Gap” emphasizes the need for the public to join the movement to end hunger. 

In 2025, the Regional Food Bank distributed more than 53.3 million pounds of food, the most in its nearly 50 years of service, except for 2020, when it responded to the pandemic. Yet despite these record-breaking efforts, the food insecurity rate remains at 12 percent. 

“There are real people behind the data in this new report—children who aren’t getting the nutrients their growing bodies need, seniors pinching pennies to feed themselves, and families on fixed incomes worrying they won’t be able to afford new groceries this week,” said Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18), who has sponsored a Lower Grocery Prices Act. He cited cuts to SNAP benefits and the increasing cost of groceries. “I’m so grateful to our exceptional food bank’s tireless work, helping meet this unprecedented demand in our community.”

“I don’t think anyone should have to choose between paying the bills and putting food on the table, but that’s becoming the reality for too many people,” said Kathy Kreiter, director of the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless. “We have to keep talking about it and keep helping where we can.” 

“The City of Newburgh is a food desert,” said Rev. Milton Stubbs, the pastor at the AME Zion Church of Newburgh. “There are no supermarkets in the city limits. Small grocers do not provide the quality or selection of food that our community needs. Also, the pricing is extremely higher than national chains’. The AME Zion Church of Newburgh, along with the other agencies in the community and the Regional Food Bank of NY, continues to strive and make a difference with impactful ministry.” 

Most people experiencing food insecurity nationally are white and are not Hispanic. Those who are Black or Latino can face disproportionately higher rates. In the Hudson Valley, Feeding America data by race/ethnicity shows that 9 percent of white individuals, 24 percent of Black individuals and 17 percent of Latino individuals experienced food insecurity.

Food-insecure households reported needing an additional $23.16 per person per week to have just enough money to cover their food needs. 

Individuals who were food insecure reported spending an average of $3.70 per meal.

Note: Story was edited to add figures for PA. To learn how food insecurity impacts your community, visit www.FeedingAmerica.org/MaptheMealGap. Read the report at www.feedingamerica.org/research/map-the-meal-gap/, and if you want to know more (or aren’t sure about the numbers), read the technical appendix. The section titled “Localizing National Measures” is particularly interesting as it goes in depth on what was involved in the local food-cost calculations.