There are many aspects of our lives that affect our health — the food we consume, the exercise we do, our stress levels, access to healthcare, and much more. When people struggle to meet vital needs — like food — everything else becomes more difficult. In Eastern Idaho, thousands of families struggle with food insecurity. They do not have access to the resources they need to lead healthy lives. This affects both parents and children. Without adequate access to food, parents find it difficult to care for their children. And unhealthy children have difficulty learning and concentrating.
At United Way of Idaho Falls and Bonneville County, we focus on alleviating food insecurity for the children and seniors in our community. Through programs that provide support during crises, we can help them get back on their feet for good.
More on Food Insecurity
The USDA defines food insecurity as "unable to acquire adequate food for one or more household members because they had insufficient money and other resources for food." 1 The Idaho Food Bank has found that "34,580 people in Eastern Idaho experienced food insecurity in 2021. This is 8.4% of the population in the region." 2 They add that "10,340 children in Eastern Idaho experienced food insecurity in 2021. This is 9.5% of the children in the region." 2 According to Feeding America, because of the need to choose between food and other health needs, "Food insecurity can lead to Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity" and "can even lead to complications like kidney disease, eye disease, and nerve damage." 3