Hunger Free America says food insecurity is surging in Louisiana because of inflation and the expiration of the child tax credit and free school meals. Hunger Free America CEO, Joel Berg, says more than 470,000 Louisiana residents are living without enough food and with the cuts to federal aid, their paychecks are not enough to keep enough food on the tape.
“Louisiana still goes by the very outdated federal minimum wage level of $7.25 an hour which hasn’t been increased in more than a decade we shouldn’t be shocked that they don’t have enough money for food,” said Berg.
Berg says the number of people without enough food over a seven-day period spiked by 26% in Louisiana, and 30% nationwide between October 2021 and October 2022.
“There are plenty of parents going without food to make sure their children get the food they need, and there are people who can’t afford healthier food. So the fact that we are failing so miserably at it strikes the moral fiber of the nation,” said Berg.
Berg says residents in need can contact the national hunger hotline at 1-8-6-6 3 Hungry. He says people can also help the non-profit advocate.
“You can contact your elected officials to get them to do more, you can volunteer at hungerfreeamerica.org anywhere in the country including in Louisiana,” said Berg.
Comments