What is Food Insecurity & How Do We Overcome It?

By: Dr. Amanda Green, Hospitalist, Chief Medical Officer

Food insecurity is having a lack of regular access to healthy and nutritious food that is necessary for normal growth and development. In 2020, an estimated one in eight Americans were food insecure, equating to over 38 million Americans, including almost 12 million children. Due to the widespread economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity has increased drastically in America over recent years, leaving unemployed, furloughed and reduced-time workers struggling to put food on the table. Lamar County has one of the highest food insecurity rates in the state at 23%.

Although many people may not be hungry to the point that they are suffering from the physical discomfort of starvation, they may still be considered food insecure. In many cases of food insecurity, people have just enough food to meet their energy requirements but are uncertain that it will last, or they may be forced to ration what they have to get by. Even in moderate levels like this, food insecurity can contribute to many forms of malnutrition and can have a serious impact on one’s overall health and well-being.

Extensive research has shown that food insecurity is a complex problem and impacts every community in the U.S. For example, low-income families who are food insecure are also commonly affected by many other overlapping issues, like a lack of affordable housing, social isolation and other economic or social disadvantages. Altogether, these issues are important social determinants of wellness that can increase risk for negative health outcomes and disparities.

Fortunately, there are steps we can take to help increase access to nutritious foods and decrease the prevalence of food insecurity.

1. Donate and volunteer at a food bank like the Downtown Food Pantry that distributes food in a grocery store-like setting Tuesday 130-430 p.m. and Thursday 830-1130 a.m. They served 9,298 people in 2021 with 1.6 million meals.
2. Stock a community mini-food pantry (outdoor pantry where anyone can take or donate food). Installed through United Way, the mini food pantries are in Roxton, Powderly, in front of the Paris Health District at the corner of Sherman and 4^th street SW, in front of Justiss and Crockett schools, and at the Paris Community Garden at 2875 Lewis Lane.
3. Organize a food drive and donate your extra produce, pasta or cans of food you won’t use, instead of letting it go to waste. A single box of donations can provide up to 25 meals, so it's more than worth it. Many local churches have had food drives that they then donate to the mini food pantries.
4. Contact your state and federal representatives and push for policies that will increase access to food, like expanding SNAP benefits and funding food initiatives.
5. Garden, harvest, and have events at the Paris Community Garden (2875 Lewis Lane) where community members can plant crops and grow healthy produce for food insecure families to share.

If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, help is available via several federal food assistance programs designed to provide access to healthy food, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, Meals on Wheels, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The United Way of Lamar County as well as the Paris Lamar Health District are also excellent resources for community referrals for assistance.

Please remember to contact a care provider to schedule a wellness exam or an appointment to address any issues you may be having because of food insecurity.

Need a healthcare provider? Paris Regional Medical Center is staffed by a highly trained team of providers, nurses and support staff. To be put in touch with a provider, call our Physician Referral Line at 903.737.3232, or visit ParisRegionalMedical.com to learn more about our services.