Feeding America, a non-profit organization tracking food insecurity nationwide, released its latest data showing hunger climbed an average of 0.7% in Onondaga, Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, and Herkimer counties.
In Oswego County, food poverty grew slower at 0.2%. But Feeding America reports that brings its total to 20.3%, making it among the worst regions in the state for child hunger. That’s approximately 5,000 children who were either surviving without a daily meal or lacking nutritious food sources due to poverty in 2023.
The numbers are based on statistics comparing the years 2022 to 2023 and do not include data following recent federal cuts to food assistance programs.