At some food banks, surging demand means a struggle to feed families – CNN

Report on Rising Food Insecurity and its Intersection with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Recent data from food assistance organizations across the United States indicates a significant surge in demand, highlighting critical challenges to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2: Zero Hunger) and Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1: No Poverty). Economic pressures, including sustained price increases and inadequate wage growth, are straining household budgets and increasing reliance on food pantries. This report analyzes the contributing factors and community responses through the lens of the SDGs.

Economic Pressures and a Widening Inequality Gap

Challenges to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

Several economic factors are undermining progress towards poverty eradication and decent work for all. These factors place immense pressure on household budgets, pushing more families toward food insecurity.

• Accumulated Price Increases: While recent inflation rates are relatively low, they build upon years of significantly higher rates, leaving many Americans struggling with the accumulated cost of living. Grocery prices gained 1.4% between January and September, following a multi-decade high of 9.1% annual inflation post-pandemic.
• Stagnant Wage Growth: Wage growth for many workers has not kept pace with inflation or the economic gains seen at the top of the economy, directly impacting SDG 8’s goal of productive employment and decent work for all.
• Interruption of Social Safety Nets: The temporary pause in full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits following a government shutdown drove many households into further economic precarity.

Impact on SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

The current economic climate has exacerbated inequalities within the nation, a direct challenge to SDG 10.

• The number of households receiving SNAP benefits has grown since 2023, indicating an expansion of economic vulnerability among lower-income populations.
• This trend contrasts sharply with stock market gains and surging home prices that have benefited wealthier Americans, widening the inequality gap.

Surge in Demand for Food Assistance: A Threat to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

Case Studies from US Food Pantries

The increased need for food assistance is not an abstract trend but a reality faced by local organizations nationwide. The following cases illustrate the scale of the challenge to achieving Zero Hunger.

1. Urbandale Food Pantry, Polk County, Iowa: Experienced demand described as “unlike anything we’ve seen,” serving over 2,000 families in a single month. The pantry exhausted its initial allotment of Thanksgiving staples due to the high volume of visitors.
2. Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Despite being unable to fully keep up with demand, the organization increased its total food distribution by 24% compared to the previous year’s Thanksgiving period, demonstrating a substantial rise in need.
3. Share Food Program, Philadelphia: The network of pantries saw a twelve-fold increase in new registrants seeking food support, with its executive director calling the period the “most challenging in the history of our organization.”

Community and Institutional Responses: Activating SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

Collaborative Efforts to Mitigate Crisis

In response to the crisis, communities are demonstrating the importance of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by mobilizing resources to support vulnerable populations.

• Community Donations: Additional funding from community members has been crucial for pantries like Urbandale to continue purchasing and supplying essential food items.
• Government Support: Emergency funding from state governments has enabled programs like Philadelphia’s Share Food Program to continue operations amidst overwhelming demand.
• Volunteer Mobilization: Volunteers are providing the essential workforce needed to manage the increased operational load. The LA Regional Food Bank, for example, expanded its distribution sites thanks to robust volunteer support, showcasing a powerful partnership between institutions and individuals to advance SDG 2.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues directly related to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary themes of food insecurity, economic hardship, and community response connect to the following goals:

• SDG 1: No Poverty: The article discusses the financial struggles of American families, evidenced by their inability to afford food due to “high prices squeez[ing] Americans’ wallets,” stagnant wage growth for many workers, and the reliance on social safety nets like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This directly relates to ending poverty in all its forms.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire piece focuses on the “surge of demand” at food pantries, the inability of families to afford Thanksgiving staples, and the increased need for food assistance. The work of organizations like the Urbandale Food Pantry and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is a direct response to food insecurity, which is the core of SDG 2.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article repeatedly emphasizes the importance of collaboration to address the food crisis. It mentions that food pantries rely on “additional funding, including donations from the community,” “emergency funding from the state,” and the critical efforts of “volunteers who power these food banks.” This highlights the multi-stakeholder partnerships between civil society, the public sector, and private citizens needed to achieve the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific issues discussed, the following SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.
   • The article directly references the SNAP benefits program, a key social protection system in the US. The mention of families “recovering from the interruption in SNAP benefits because of the government shutdown” and the fact that the “number of households receiving SNAP benefits has grown since 2023” points directly to the implementation and challenges of this social safety net.
2. Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
   • This target is central to the article. The “increased need” at food pantries, with one seeing demand “unlike anything we’ve seen,” and the struggle of families to afford groceries due to high food prices, directly address the challenge of ensuring year-round access to sufficient food for vulnerable populations.
3. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • The article provides clear examples of such partnerships in action. The Urbandale Food Pantry continued its operations thanks to “donations from the community.” The Share Food Program in Philadelphia was sustained by “emergency funding from the state and community donations.” The LA Regional Food Bank expanded its distribution with “support from volunteers.” These examples illustrate the civil society and public partnerships necessary to address complex social challenges.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article contains several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure the extent of the problem and the progress towards the identified targets.

• Indicators for Target 2.1 (End Hunger):
  • Number of people seeking food assistance: The article states that “over 2,000 families” visited the Urbandale Food Pantry in a single month.
  • Rate of increase in demand for food aid: The Share Food Program in Philadelphia saw a “12-fold increase in new registrants looking for food support.”
  • Volume of food distribution: The LA Regional Food Bank increased its “total food distribution up 24% compared to the Thanksgiving period last year.”
  • Prevalence of food insecurity (implied): The fact that Google searches for “food banks near me” hit a new high implies a widespread and increasing need for food assistance.
• Indicators for Target 1.3 (Social Protection):
  • Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems: The article mentions that the “number of households receiving SNAP benefits has grown since 2023,” which serves as a direct indicator of the program’s reach and the population’s need.
• Indicators for Target 17.17 (Partnerships):
  • Value of financial and in-kind contributions: The article mentions “additional funding,” “donations from the community,” and “emergency funding from the state” as crucial resources, which could be quantified.
  • Level of volunteer engagement: The article notes that “volunteers who power these food banks are stepping up their efforts” and that there are “more than enough people out volunteering,” indicating a high level of civil society participation.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cnn.com