New data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study reveals that food insecurity remains a pervasive issue across Georgia, with 1 in 6 residents, including 1 in 5 children, experiencing food insecurity in 2024. The study underscores that every county in the state is affected, but rural communities bear the brunt, as more than 8 out of 10 counties with the highest estimated food insecurity rates nationally are rural.
In the 29-county service area of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, nearly 14% of neighbors are food insecure, according to Kyle Waide, President and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The area includes over 900,000 people, including more than 293,000 children, who faced food insecurity in 2024. Food insecurity rates vary widely within the region, from a low of 10.2% in Henry County to a high of 20.9% in Heard County.
A key finding of the study is that approximately 64% of people experiencing food insecurity in Georgia have incomes too high to qualify for federal nutrition assistance, such as SNAP benefits. In the Atlanta Community Food Bank's service area, more than 68% of individuals facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP, up from 61% in 2023. Additionally, 40% of children facing hunger in the area may not qualify for free or reduced-price meals, compared to 32% in 2023.
“More of our neighbors are having to make difficult choices to make ends meet and are struggling to put food on their tables,” Waide said. He emphasized the need for collective action among lawmakers, donors, suppliers, and partners to ensure access to healthy food.
The study also highlights disparities by race and ethnicity. While most people experiencing food insecurity nationally are white non-Hispanic, Black and Latino individuals face disproportionately higher rates. In Georgia, 11% of white individuals, 27% of Black individuals, and 19% of Latino individuals experienced food insecurity in 2024.
Meal costs also vary significantly. Nationally, food-secure individuals reported spending an average of $3.70 per meal, but costs range from $2.56 to $6.28 per county. In Fulton County, the average cost per meal is $4.68, reflecting the growing need seen at the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
Despite the USDA discontinuing food security data collection, Feeding America will continue to estimate local food insecurity and meal costs. The organization is exploring alternative data sources for future estimates. The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by the Conagra Brands Foundation, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, and NielsenIQ/NIQ. Additional findings and an interactive map are available on the Map the Meal Gap website.
For more information about the Atlanta Community Food Bank and how to help, visit acfb.org.
