Almost 30% of Leon County’s population is food insecure. This means just under 35,000 people cannot find enough food to eat. Our surrounding counties have equal or greater challenges. Food insecurity particularly impacts children, communities of color, people with low incomes, immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities.
In its Healthy Living Blog, Tallahassee Memorial HealthcCare noted that “food insecurity costs can affect every part of an individual’s life, including their financial, mental and physical well-being.” Hungry people are at a higher risk for many health problems, including an increased rate of diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and depression. Also, hunger causes children to have lower scores in math and increases the likelihood of repeating a grade while decreasing development in areas like language and motor skills.
Feeding America, a national network of food banks, pantries and other food programs, notes that systems and policies are critically important to prevent hunger. Systems and policies are justice issues. The Capital Area Justice Ministry is conducting research into these problems and with partners will advocate for the changes necessary to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry.
Daily over 34,000 people in Leon County do not know when they will have their next meal.
Households can’t afford basic needs, such as housing, food, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and technology. Jefferson County: 49%. Gadsden County: 59%. Taylor County: 63%.
Only 54% of 3rd graders in Leon County public schools read on grade level.
Over the past decade, more than 50 children have been injured or killed by gun violence in Leon County; almost all of these victims are Black.
These statistics represent real people who are struggling and reveal the gaps in our community that cause children and families to seek the charity and direct services our congregations provide weekly. They also present an opportunity for people of faith to powerfully “do justice” by annually pushing for just policies and practices that will bring abundance and safety to all in the Tallahassee area.
When Nehemiah heard the people’s experiences with injustice, he said he got “very angry” (5:6). So, the question is, when you consider these and other problems that impact children and families, what community problem do you most want to change?