New data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study reveals that food insecurity reached every community in Georgia in 2024, with rural areas experiencing the highest rates. The study found that 1 in 6 Georgians, including 1 in 5 children, faced food insecurity last year. In the 29-county service area of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, nearly 14% of residents—over 900,000 people—were food insecure, including more than 293,000 children.
The research highlights a stark geographic divide: nationwide, 84% of counties with the highest food insecurity are in the South, and in Georgia, rural counties like Heard, Floyd, and Polk are among the hardest hit. Heard County has the highest food insecurity rate in the Atlanta Food Bank's area at 20.9%, while Henry County has the lowest at 10.2%. The study also shows that food insecurity is rising among children in the region, increasing from 16.5% in 2023 to 19.2% in 2024.
A critical finding is that many food-insecure individuals do not qualify for federal assistance. In the Atlanta Food Bank's service area, more than 68% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), up from 61% in 2023. Similarly, 40% of food-insecure children may not qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, compared to 32% in 2023. Nationally, half of all food-insecure individuals are ineligible for SNAP due to income limits.
"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 Map the Meal Gap numbers help us understand the scale of this crisis as we work with lawmakers, donors, suppliers and our partners to ensure that Georgia residents have access to healthy, nutritious food."
The study also underscores the impact of rising food costs. In Fulton County, the average cost per meal is $4.68, while nationally, food-secure individuals spent an average of $3.70 per meal. Meal costs vary widely from $2.56 to $6.28 per county. The high cost of living, particularly housing, is forcing families to make difficult trade-offs, as documented in the 2024 Elevating Voices: Insights Report.
Racial and ethnic disparities persist. In Georgia, 11% of white individuals, 27% of Black individuals, and 19% of Latino individuals experienced food insecurity. The majority of food-insecure people nationally are white, non-Hispanic, but Black and Latino populations face disproportionately higher rates.
The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by Conagra Brands Foundation, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, and NielsenIQ/NIQ. More details and an interactive map are available on the Map the Meal Gap website. The Atlanta Community Food Bank invites the public to learn more and get involved at acfb.org.
