Food Insecurity in Ithaca and Tompkins County

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Food Insecurity in Ithaca and Tompkins County

September 9, 2020by | Calissa Brown | 0 comments

Ithaca is a city filled with bustling restaurants and the surrounding region is a landscape of farms and orchards. The food and drink industry is one of the leading tourist attractions in the Finger Lakes region. But not everyone has access to this high-quality food, and there are many members of our community who struggle to find affordable, nutritious food.

Food insecurity can exist when an individual, community, or region has limited food access or availability.

Access includes affordability and preference, such as religion or dietary restrictions.

Availability includes both the type of food available and how much food exists. For example, some people buy inexpensive, unhealthy food because that is their only option (they might live in a food desert).

When issues involving food access and availability arise in a community, individuals and families may have to choose between buying food or paying for resources they need such as utilities, transportation, medical care, housing, and education.

Food insecurity globally and locally

Food insecurity is an immense problem, and it is estimated that over two billion people worldwide don’t have access to sufficient food–over 25% of the world’s population. According to a 2014 study by the USDA, food insecurity affected nearly 17.4 million U.S. households at some time during the year.

The Ithaca community is no exception and according to FeedingAmerica.org, approximately 18% of people in Tompkins and Cortland counties were food insecure in 2017, the latest year for which data is available.

Fork and plate with small piece of bread on it

COVID-19 and food insecurity in Ithaca

The COVID-19 global pandemic has amplified food insecurity issues and communities are coming together to support each other during these times of uncertainty.

In Ithaca, to provide food assistance to low income individuals, senior citizens, disabled persons, children, and many more, local food pantries are changing the ways they are staying open during the COVID-19 crisis.

For example, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier will be holding drive-through Community Food Distributions in August (call 1-833-432-3663 to register) and adjusting their hours. The Food Bank provides over one million meals to Tompkins County residents annually, but say they are still only able to meet less than half of the need.

Even for-profit businesses such as Collegetown Bagels have adopted a policy of pay-what-you-can (community kitchen) to help the community. All pre-packaged soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees are offered on a “pay what you can” basis, up to two items per person, per day. Ithacans who would like to aid in the effort have the option to “pay it forward” at the register to help buy the next meal for their neighbors in need.

Hungry child looking in the refrigerator at night

Children and hunger in Tompkins County

Kids experience food insecurity at a higher rate than the general population. According to Natasha Thompson, President and CEO of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, in an Ithaca Voice article, “One in five Tompkins County children is at risk of hunger. Forty percent qualify for free or reduced lunch – a 5% rise in the past five years, and about equal to the national average. However, the numbers vary across districts: 50% of Newfield students qualify, compared with only 23% in Lansing.”