Feeding America reports rising food insecurity in Texas and St. Louis area

Feeding America's annual Map the Meal Gap study highlights a surge in food insecurity across two U.S. regions. In the bi‑state St. Louis area – covering eastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois – an estimated 434,100 people, including 128,790 children, were food‑insecure in 2024, with rural counties showing the highest rates. The study notes that many affected residents earn too much to qualify for federal nutrition programs (Illinois 51.9%, Missouri 62.2%).

In Texas, the report finds nearly one in five residents – more than six million people – lack reliable access to food, up from one in six the previous year. One in four Texas children and one in seven seniors are food‑insecure, with Black Texans experiencing disproportionately higher rates. Both regions cite rising food costs and shrinking federal support as drivers of the worsening situation, underscoring the need for expanded community and policy responses.