New data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study highlights the persistent challenge of food insecurity in Georgia, with rural communities bearing the heaviest burden. The study, which estimates local food insecurity and meal costs for 2024, reveals that 1 in 6 people and 1 in 5 children in Georgia experienced food insecurity last year. In the 29 counties served by the Atlanta Community Food Bank, nearly 14% of residents—over 900,000 people, including more than 293,000 children—faced hunger.
The findings underscore a critical issue: a significant portion of food-insecure households earn too much to qualify for federal nutrition assistance. In the Food Bank's service area, more than 68% of people experiencing food insecurity may not qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), up from 61% in 2023. Among children, 40% may not qualify for free or reduced-price meals, compared to 32% the previous year. "More of our neighbors are having to make difficult choices to make ends meet and are struggling to put food on their tables," said Kyle Waide, President and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
The study shows that food insecurity is not confined to urban centers. Nationally, 84% of counties with the highest food insecurity rates are in the South, and in Georgia, rural counties like Heard (20.9%), Floyd, and Polk experience some of the highest rates. Even within the Food Bank's service area, rates vary widely, from 10.2% in Henry County to 20.9% in Heard County. Behind these statistics are the difficult choices neighbors face, as documented in the 2024 Elevating Voices: Insights Report, where high housing costs and basic necessities make accessing nutritious food challenging.
The study also reveals disparities by race and ethnicity. In Georgia, 11% of white individuals, 27% of Black individuals, and 19% of Latino individuals experienced food insecurity in 2024. Additionally, the cost of meals varies significantly by county, with Fulton County averaging $4.68 per meal, compared to a national range of $2.56 to $6.28. This cost burden exacerbates the struggle for families already stretched thin.
With the USDA discontinuing food security data collection, Feeding America is exploring alternative data sources to continue estimating local food insecurity beyond 2027. The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by Conagra Brands Foundation, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, and NielsenIQ/NIQ. The full report and interactive map are available at FeedingAmerica.org/MaptheMealGap.
The Atlanta Community Food Bank, through its network of over 700 partners, works to address this crisis. For more information, visit acfb.org.
