Addressing Hunger in Washington, D.C.

Every day, more than 47 million Americans—including nearly 14 million children—face the harsh reality of hunger, a sobering testament to the profound food insecurity gripping our nation. In Washington D.C. and its surrounding areas, the Capital Area Food Bank has stood as a pillar in the community for more than 40 years, addressing both immediate hunger and the systemic inequities driving food insecurity. In 2023 alone, the organization supplied food for nearly 61 million meals, collaborating with over 400 nonprofits like Martha’s Table, SOME – So Others Might Eat, and D.C. Central Kitchen. These partnerships ensure the region’s most vulnerable populations—families with children, communities of color, and low-income individuals—have access to nutritious meals and essential support services.

Food banks like the Capital Area Food Bank are more than emergency food providers—they are community anchors advocating for systemic change. Beyond distributing food, the organization pairs meals with health care, education, and job training to address hunger’s root causes. Programs such as food pharmacies, which provide healthy groceries prescribed by doctors, and partnerships offering grocery cards to college students, demonstrate a holistic approach to fostering long-term food security.

Recent findings from the Capital Area Food Bank’s 2024 Hunger Report revealed a 5% increase in food insecurity across the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia region, where 37% of households now face challenges in accessing sufficient, healthy food. While inflation, stagnant wages, and administrative burdens have exacerbated this crisis, the problem transcends economic disparity. The report found that hunger spanned socioeconomic divides, affecting households with college-educated members at a significantly higher rate than in previous years.

The Capital Area Food Bank is committed to fostering equity and creating a world where no one must choose between basic necessities like food, health care, or education. 

Tune in to the 2024 Bloomberg American Health Summit on December 3 to learn more about their work: bit.ly/bloomberghealthsummit24