We must get to the roots of food insecurity

The Times Union published an article regarding hunger and the recent decline in food insecurity in the United States. In short: Fewer people are turning to food banks, but the need remains well above pre-pandemic levels. Our region is no exception.

I’ve seen it first hand: 200 cars stretch around the block at food distributions, held in partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. Through this partnership, Catholic Charities has distributed more than three million pounds of food since the pandemic began.

But we remember well our first food distribution, which took place in 2018, in a food desert in Amsterdam. A food desert is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as a lowincome census tract where a substantial number of residents cannot easily access a grocery store. Right here in the Capital Region, in 2018, our neighbors could not access food. One in seven children were living with food insecurity, according to Feeding America.

I take comfort in seeing our neighbors recover, albeit slowly. But to return to pre-pandemic levels of hunger cannot be our final goal.

At Catholic Charities, we are providing information, referrals and case management services to promote long-term stability to guests at our food pantries and distributions. We have to go farther and address food insecurity and the underlying causes that have been present in our communities for decades. It will take a coordinated effort of elected officials, nonprofits and community members to do so. Vincent W. Colonno

Albany CEO, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany