Food Insecurity in Lancaster: A look at the Farm to Pantry Project and other ways you can combat hunger in your community

icon

In 2023, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank released the Lancaster County Community Hunger Mapping Project, a report that details the overall state of food insecurity in Lancaster.

This report estimates that 8.7% of Lancaster’s population lives in food-insecure households.

While most of this population works full-time or receives government benefits, nearly half earn less than $24,000 annually. And while food insecurity has decreased gradually since the Great Recession in 2007, it has never fallen below 10%.

But if we have food banks, why does food insecurity still exist?

What Causes Food Insecurity?

Food banks in Lancaster County face many obstacles, resulting in high food insecurity.

Some of the most common obstacles include limited food supply, limited volunteers and hours of operation, language barriers for visitors, and few locations. Plus, some food banks struggle to receive adequate donations, and the food received is often expired or of poor quality.

Nevertheless, food waste is one of the most common causes of food insecurity.

America wastes about 60 million tons of food annually, equaling around 40% of the US food supply. Food waste happens for many reasons. People misunderstand expiration labels, problems occur during food transportation, and retailers reject produce that doesn’t meet appearance standards.

Overproduction on farms also contributes to food waste in Lancaster. It can be difficult for a farmer to accurately estimate the amount of food a harvest will produce, which can often result in excess. Some farmers, however, do not have access to food banks or receive inadequate assistance harvesting leftovers, resulting in food waste. You can help bridge this gap!

The Farm to Pantry Project

If you’d like to help farmers limit food waste due to overproduction, check out LFT’s Farm to Pantry Project! Farm to Pantry Project volunteers help our landowners harvest this excess produce and redirect it to local food banks. Sign up for our gleaning volunteer group to receive regular updates about upcoming harvesting opportunities to fight food insecurity in our community! Click here to learn more about the Farm to Pantry Project, and sign up now!

Other Ways to Help

Of course, you can help support food banks in your community in many other ways.

First, avoid food waste! Donate your extra food and take the time to understand the expiration labels. If you need clarification on certain expiration labels, click here for a guide! Never toss unused food.

Second, simply give! If you have no excess food or time to give, food banks are always happy to receive a monetary donation. Monetary donations help these institutions cover transportation costs, purchase needed supplies, or pay their building’s rent.

And, of course, volunteer! Even if you can’t help us harvest produce, there are still many opportunities to volunteer. Pick up a shift or two to help extend a food bank’s hours of operation.

No one should feel unsure about their next meal. By donating your food, time, and funds, you can make a positive impact in the fight against hunger. To learn more about food insecurity in America and even more ways to help, check out the references below. We hope to see you at our next gleaning event!

References: