September 2019
Volume 2, Issue 12
The 12th Can and
Addressing Food Insecurity
The 12th Can is a committee within the Student Government Association. Since they opened their doors in November 2013, they have strived to help eradicate food insecurity among Texas A&M student, faculty, and staff. They host a food pantry on campus that anyone who meets the eligibility requirements. Read on in this month’s issue of the Residence Life Sustainability Newsletter to learn more about the 12th Can and food insecurity in the United States and Bryan-College Station community.
Statistics to Know
In 2017…1
- 8% of U.S. households were food-insecure with 4.5% having very low food security
- 40 million people lived in food-insecure households
- Over half a million children lived in households where one or more children experienced very low food security
In Texas…2
- 1 in 7 people struggles with hunger
- 1 in 4 children struggles with hunger
- Over 4.2 million people in Texas are struggling with hunger
In the Brazos Valley…3
- 1 in 5 individuals is food insecure
- Over one third of children in the valley are food insecure
- From July 2017 to June 2018, over 46,000 people were fed through a food bank partner or program
In Brazos County…2
- The rate of food insecurity is over 20%
- Over 43,000 people are food insecure
- The average cost of a meal is $2.89
Definitions to Know
- Food desert – an urban area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food
- Food Insecurity – the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food
- Low food security – reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet with little or no indication of reduced food intake
- Very low food security – reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake
- Food oasis – can be defined as any place where people have the best possible access to healthy options and eating environments
- Food Security – the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food
- High food security – no reported indications of food-access problems of limitations
- Marginal food security – one or two reported indications – typically of anxiety over food sufficiency or shortage of food in the house – with little or no indication of changes in diets or food intake
Legend:
1 Via the USDA
2 Via Feeding America
3 Via Brazos Valley Food Bank
# of Household Members | Annual | Monthly | Twice-Monthly | Bi-Weekly | Weekly |
1 | $21,978 | $1,832 | $916 | $846 | $423 |
2 | $29,637 | $2,470 | $1,235 | $1,140 | $570 |
3 | $37,296 | $3,108 | $1,554 | $1,435 | $718 |
4 | $44,955 | $3,747 | $1,874 | $1,730 | $865 |
5 | $52,614 | $4,385 | $2,193 | $2,024 | $1,012 |
6 | $60,273 | $5,023 | $2,512 | $2,319 | $1,160 |
7 | $67,951 | $5,663 | $2,832 | $2,614 | $1,307 |
8 | $75,647 | $6,304 | $3,152 | $2,910 | $1,455 |
For Each Additional Person, Add: | +$7,696 | +$642 | +$321 | +$296 | +$148 |
Note: Use gross income to determine eligibility. Farmers and self-employed households qualify based on net income (total income minus expenses). A household with unexpected and unavoidable expenses of a household crisis may qualify for temporary, emergency food assistance without regard to the household’s gross or net income. |