The Impact of Hunger in Our Community

According to United Way of Broward, Soref Community Center, local food banks and Feeding America, nearly 258,000 people, including more than 81,000 children, in Broward County alone experience food insecurity.

Eye-level view of a community food pantry with shelves stocked with various food items

Consistent access to fresh and healthy food helps reduce the potential of chronic health issues caused by poor nutrition, including mental health issues. Associated healthcare costs are often intensified by food insecurity. Diet-related illnesses, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, cost the U.S. over $1.1 trillion annually.

"Food as Medicine" programs integrate healthy food into healthcare by connecting people experiencing food insecurity with nutrition-focused support, such as medically tailored meals or produce prescriptions. Medically Tailored Meals could prevent 1.6 million hospitalizations and save $13.6 billion in one year, with most savings occurring within the public health insurance programs Medicare and Medicaid. (Tufts University Solution Report). Produce prescriptions could avert 292,000 cardiovascular events and save $40 billion in healthcare costs (Article published by Wang et al., 2023 in Journal of the American Heart Association)

Hunger and poor nutrition affect a child’s physical and cognitive development prenatally, perinatally, and during the early years.  Many of these effects are long-lasting or permanent through adolescence and into adulthood.