Press Release: New Report Shows Food Insecurity Rising Across Golden Harvest’s 24-County Service Area

1 in 4 children in Golden Harvest Food Bank’s service area face hunger

AUGUSTA (May 14, 2025) – Hunger is rising across the 24 counties served by Golden Harvest Food Bank. According to Feeding America’s newly released Map the Meal Gap study, 1 in 6 neighbors and 1 in 4 children in the Food Bank’s service area are facing food insecurity. Just one year ago, that number was 1 in 7 people and 1 in 4 children across its more than 10,000 square mile service area. In Richmond County, the need is even more urgent, with 1 in 5 residents and 1 in 4 children living in households that do not always have enough to eat.

“These numbers confirm what we witness every day. More families, children, and seniors are struggling to get enough to eat,” said Amy Breitmann, President and CEO, Golden Harvest Food Bank. “The need is growing, and so is our commitment to ensure every neighbor has access to healthy, nutritious food. We are deeply grateful for the partners, donors, and volunteers who come alongside us every day to make this work possible.”

The report highlights wide disparities in food access across the region. Map the Meal Gap is the only study providing county-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs nationwide. This year’s findings reflect the highest national hunger levels in more than a decade, driven by rising food prices, inflation, and the expiration of many pandemic-era assistance programs.

Key findings from the report include:

• In Golden Harvest’s 24-county service area, 1 in 6 people and 1 in 4 children are food insecure

• In Richmond County, 1 in 5 residents are food insecure, including 1 in 4 children

• In Hancock County, 1 in 2 children face hunger, the highest child food insecurity rate in the region

• In 9 of the 24 counties served by Golden Harvest, at least one in three children are living with food insecurity

Map the Meal Gap is the only study providing county-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs nationwide. It builds on recent USDA data showing that food insecurity has reached its highest national level in over a decade, driven by the rising cost of food, inflation, and the end of pandemic-era support programs.

Golden Harvest Food Bank is responding by expanding its network of more than 325+ hunger relief partners across Georgia and South Carolina. Through programs geared towards children and seniors, Golden Harvest Food Bank continues to meet rising needs across both rural and urban communities. For children, the Backpack and School Market programs provide nutritious food during the school year, ensuring they have meals when and where they need them most. During the summer, the Summer Harvest program helps fill the gap for Georgia families by providing food boxes when school meals are unavailable.

For older adults, the Senior Food Box and Senior Market programs deliver groceries and meals directly to those facing health or mobility challenges, helping ensure our senior neighbors have consistent access to the nutritious food they need to age with health and dignity.

To explore local hunger data or view the full Map the Meal Gap report, visit map.feedingamerica.org.

To support Golden Harvest’s mission or get involved, visit www.goldenharvest.org.

About Golden Harvest Food Bank

Golden Harvest Food Bank serves the hungry in our 24-county service area in eastern Georgia and western South Carolina. The Food Bank was founded in Augusta, Ga. in 1982, and now operates from distribution centers in Augusta, Ga. and Aiken, S.C. Golden Harvest is a locally supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides grocery products to the hungry through a network of over 325 hunger relief partners. Golden Harvest distributed over 15 million meals to those in need in fiscal year 2025.