Food insecurity in Idaho: An estimated one in eight children suffer

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Thousands of Idahoans struggle to get enough food, and as many as one in eight Idaho children suffer from food insecurity, a report from Feeding American says.

In 2021, an estimated one in nine Idahoans are food insecure--that's 202,390 people. The rate for children is even higher, and an estimated 57,620 children don't have enough to eat.

In north-central Idaho specifically, an estimated one in five children are food insecure.

Across the entire state, Feeding America estimates that food-insecure people are a total of $94 million short of having a secure food budget.

And a disturbing number of hungry people in Idaho are senior citizens.

Almost one out of four Idaho seniors depend on Social Security for 90 percent or more of their family income, the Idaho Foodbank says, and 15 percent of older residents are living in poverty.

If you'd like to help out struggling Idahoans, CBS2 is partnering with the Idaho Foodbank and Western Idaho Fair to run a food drive on Wednesday, June 29.

You can donate items all day at CBS2, 140 N 16th Street in Boise.

There are two ways to donate online:

Idaho Foodbank with Western Idaho Fair: CLICK HERE

Sinclair Cares: Hunger Relief: CLICK HERE