COVID-19 & Hunger in Kansas

In the breadbasket of the richest country in the world, no one should worry about where their next meal will come from.

COVID-19 increased hunger and hardship that already persisted in Kansas. Despite the crucial work of food banks, mutual aid programs, meal services, and food assistance, one in six Kansans and one in four Kansas children are food insecure. Feeding America, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, estimates food insecurity in Kansas increased from 12.1% to 14.1% during 2020.

The systemic oppression of marginalized identities also means an individual’s vulnerability to hunger is affected by their race, education level, gender, immigration status, and beyond. Food insecurity is a political decision.

Our communities are inventive, resilient, and compassionate. Solutions to hunger are right in front of us. This report discusses how COVID-19 impacted Kansans’ access to what we need to survive, ways communities and programs stepped up to fill the gaps, and opportunities to help Kansans not only recover from the pandemic but thrive.