Nearly 12% of households statewide — representing hundreds of thousands of Arizonans — are food insecure, lacking consistent access to enough food to sustain an active, healthy life, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) .
With the holiday season upon us, the need for resources, from access to benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP — to support from community organizations like food banks, is even more pressing.
So, what options are available to Arizonans in need? And how can community members help?
The state of food insecurity in Arizona
It’s no secret that grocery costs have increased — the USDA reports food inflation has risen by 25% over the last five years , and that cost is continuing to rise. According to an October release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the Consumer Price Index, which measures the change in average prices paid by consumers, saw a 1.3% increase in the “food at home” category over the last 12 months — that covers grocery staples like meat and eggs, among other foods.