#food-insecurity

#food-insecurity

Most grocery stores across the West trace back to a few major corporations. Whether you're visiting King Soopers in Colorado, Smith's in Utah or Fred Meyer in Oregon, you'll find the same Kroger-brand products. The original names of the once-locally owned grocers might remain, but the shops are now just part of one of the nation's largest grocery corporations. A handful of companies control the production and distribution of most of our food, and the West plays a leading role in that system.

With all children across the UK back in school as of this week, I am reminded that almost one in three are in poverty. That statistic is shocking enough but behind every number is a child, and what this statistic means is children arriving at school hungry, living in insecure housing, and missing out on the activities that help them thrive.

As part of its Youth Transition Project (YTP), Stepping Stones, Inc. - a premier Child Welfare Agency - will provide a special screening of the award-winning documentary Generation Growth - www.generationgrowthfilm.com - a powerful documentary featuring internationally acclaimed educator and Green Bronx Machine founder Stephen Ritz on Wednesday, August 26, 2025, at 1 PM. This screening is courtesy of Quest Diagnostics.

Aiyer, who leads the Rotary Club of Cupertino's fruit harvesting pilot program in collaboration with hunger and homelessness nonprofit West Valley Community Services, has harvested more than 850 pounds of fresh fruit since the idea came to life last spring. Her team of roughly 10 volunteers has picked fruit three times from residents who offer their trees to the program, including lemons, oranges and plums.

53% of Americans said the cost of groceries was a major source of stress right now, while 33% said it was a minor source of stress.

Costco does not mark down items as they near expiration but donates leftover food to food banks and shelters, helping to fight hunger and reduce waste.

Charlotte Hill, chief executive of The Felix Project, highlighted the challenges families face: "For so many the holidays are a real struggle. With schools closed and free school meals unavailable, it is the parents and carers who must cover the cost of that meal."

"We know that kids or some families who may be accessing food through a student nutrition program in their school, can't access those programs during the summer," Toronto's manager of the poverty reduction office, Bryony Halpin, told CBC. "So programs like CampTO Nutrition is trying to improve access to nutritious snacks for kids who are attending city summer camps and are not getting access to food programs in their school community at that time."

Berkson transitioned Lucille to take-out only and worked with local restaurateurs on a Cook it Forward program to deliver food to residents facing food insecurity.

"People start lining up at our food pantry at 5 a.m. We don't open until 9 a.m. We're seeing parents push their children in their empty grocery carts."

Eleven Palestinians were killed or injured on Tuesday morning after Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd waiting for food trucks in central Gaza, civil defence officials in the devastated territory have said.

Around 40% of students reported experiencing food insecurity between 2023 and 2024. A South Bay nonprofit aims to eliminate this issue for local students.

The conditions are very, very harsh. The worst feast that the Palestinian people have experienced is due to the unjust war against them.

The Trussell Trust has revealed a stark increase in emergency food parcels distributed in the UK, with a 51% increase recorded over the past five years.

According to Feeding America, more than 50 million people turned to the country's charitable food system in 2023 alone, often through the use of food banks and pantries.

"I know how difficult it can be for people to feed themselves and their families, especially when facing lack of time or transportation challenges," says Nancy Dalton.

In March, the Trump administration cut $1 billion from Department of Agriculture programs that provide food to schools and food banks, sparking widespread concern.