The Partial Observer by Bill Waller

Food Insecurity for Children Rising

Feeding America released data on May 15 showing that the overall food insecurity rate in Otsego County has risen from 8.5 percent in 2021 to 11.4 percent in 2022 and, most troubling, childhood hunger is now at 14.7 percent. This parallels the increased need for services experienced by the Cooperstown Food Pantry and the further anticipated increase when schools close for the summer.

When school closes, the Cooperstown Food Pantry School Backpack Program—which sends food home with kids for the weekend—stops and children lose access to those meals, as well as to school provided breakfasts and lunches. The food pantry tries to address this need via a children’s supplemental box program over the summer, packaging three meals a day for four weekends, but it does not have the same reach.

This is one of the reasons the Cooperstown Food Pantry has launched a spring funding initiative, to help meet the county’s increasing food insecurity in general and childhood nutritional needs in particular. The initiative is targeted at both new donors and those who have supported the pantry in the past. CFP wants to provide the good nutrition that makes our families and children healthy so they can lead fulfilling lives for themselves and in our community.

This area is in particular need, as there are many who are working two jobs, have children at home and are just barely making ends meet. All it takes is one missed paycheck or one car breakdown before they have to decide if they can afford food for the week. These families are identified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families, who have income levels just over the federal poverty definition, or $26,000.00 for a family of four. Currently, the Cooperstown Food Pantry serves, on average, 650 people, or 191 households each month.

ALICE data for Otsego County shows that 35 percent of the population falls in the ALICE category, with 12 percent of the population below the poverty level. This totals 47 percent of the Otsego County population in need of support.

We ask everyone to assist in addressing this important issue. Contact the Cooperstown Food Pantry at (607) 547-8902 for more information.

Bill Waller is a resident of the Village of Cooperstown and serves on the Cooperstown Food Pantry Board of Directors.