One Health

Food insecurity is an official term used by the US Department of Agriculture to refer to situations where people do not have access to sufficient food and/or they do not know where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity can stem from financial insecurity, but it can also be caused by issues of accessibility. Are there quality grocery stores in your neighborhood? Can they be accessed through reliable public transportation?

Food insecurity is a public health crisis as it significantly impacts people's physical and mental health, their ability to focus at school and work, and their overall well-being.

Facts about food insecurity in the United States:

• 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience it annually
• Poor nutrition leads to 600,000 deaths annually as it is a contributor to heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers
• Black and Latino people living below the poverty line experience it at a rate that is double the national average

While there is not good data right now about food insecurity in pets, we know that people who struggle to get food for themselves also struggle to get food for their pets. In 2021, over 53 million people visited food banks across the US. Since then, most food banks are reporting increases in the number of visitors they are seeing. The map below shows the prevalence of food insecurity in the US by state. 

How does your state compare? Does your community have quality, accessible food options? Have you seen pet food offered at local food banks?

References

• Feeding America. (2025). What is Food Insecurity? https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/food-insecurity
• US Department of Agriculture. (2024, July 9). Nutrition Security Promotion Toolkit. https://www.fns.usda.gov/programs/nutrition-security/promotion
• US Department of Agriculture. (2025, January 8). Food Security in the U.S. - Key Statistics & Graphics. Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics

------------------------------
Kaitlyn Davis
Research Associate
UTK Program for Pet Health Equity
Knoxville, TN
------------------------------

Food insecurity is an official term used by the US Department of Agriculture to refer to situations where people do not have access to sufficient food and/or they do not know where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity can stem from financial insecurity, but it can also be caused by issues of accessibility. Are there quality grocery stores in your neighborhood? Can they be accessed through reliable public transportation?

Food insecurity is a public health crisis as it significantly impacts people's physical and mental health, their ability to focus at school and work, and their overall well-being.

Facts about food insecurity in the United States:

• 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience it annually
• Poor nutrition leads to 600,000 deaths annually as it is a contributor to heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers
• Black and Latino people living below the poverty line experience it at a rate that is double the national average

While there is not good data right now about food insecurity in pets, we know that people who struggle to get food for themselves also struggle to get food for their pets. In 2021, over 53 million people visited food banks across the US. Since then, most food banks are reporting increases in the number of visitors they are seeing. The map below shows the prevalence of food insecurity in the US by state. 

How does your state compare? Does your community have quality, accessible food options? Have you seen pet food offered at local food banks?

References

• Feeding America. (2025). What is Food Insecurity? https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/food-insecurity
• US Department of Agriculture. (2024, July 9). Nutrition Security Promotion Toolkit. https://www.fns.usda.gov/programs/nutrition-security/promotion
• US Department of Agriculture. (2025, January 8). Food Security in the U.S. - Key Statistics & Graphics. Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics

------------------------------
Kaitlyn Davis
Research Associate
UTK Program for Pet Health Equity
Knoxville, TN
------------------------------

Food insecurity is an official term used by the US Department of Agriculture to refer to situations where people do not have access to sufficient food and/or they do not know where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity can stem from financial insecurity, but it can also be caused by issues of accessibility. Are there quality grocery stores in your neighborhood? Can they be accessed through reliable public transportation?

Food insecurity is a public health crisis as it significantly impacts people's physical and mental health, their ability to focus at school and work, and their overall well-being.

Facts about food insecurity in the United States:

• 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience it annually
• Poor nutrition leads to 600,000 deaths annually as it is a contributor to heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers
• Black and Latino people living below the poverty line experience it at a rate that is double the national average

While there is not good data right now about food insecurity in pets, we know that people who struggle to get food for themselves also struggle to get food for their pets. In 2021, over 53 million people visited food banks across the US. Since then, most food banks are reporting increases in the number of visitors they are seeing. The map below shows the prevalence of food insecurity in the US by state. 

How does your state compare? Does your community have quality, accessible food options? Have you seen pet food offered at local food banks?

References

• Feeding America. (2025). What is Food Insecurity? https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/food-insecurity
• US Department of Agriculture. (2024, July 9). Nutrition Security Promotion Toolkit. https://www.fns.usda.gov/programs/nutrition-security/promotion
• US Department of Agriculture. (2025, January 8). Food Security in the U.S. - Key Statistics & Graphics. Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics

------------------------------
Kaitlyn Davis
Research Associate
UTK Program for Pet Health Equity
Knoxville, TN
------------------------------

Thank you for this information! Here at the Humane Society of Tennessee Valley, we have a pet food pantry where anyone can come and get food and sometimes supplies for your cat or dog. We've recently realized that sometimes its hard for people to get to us in Knoxville, so we are partnering with Companion Animal Initiative of Tennessee (CAIT), Knox Pride, and other organizations to take our pantry mobile and to our unhoused pet owners.

I just started here in April and during my first month we had a elderly woman come into the shelter, she started her sentence with saying that she's embarrassed and just started breaking down in tears as she told us that she wasn't sure if she had enough cat litter to get her until pay day, but she did have just enough food. Our pet pantry quickly became a passion project of mine as I watched the relief spread across her face and her embarrassed tears turn to grateful ones as we loaded her up with plenty of litter, and food, to get her through the month. 

If there is any way we can partner with the UTK Program for Pet Health Equity, please let me know! kandreasen@humanesocietytennessee.org 

------------------------------
KaDee Andreasen
Development Director
Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley
TN

Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2025 09:51 AM
From: Kaitlyn Davis
Subject: Food Insecurity, A Public Health Crisis for People and Pets Alike

Food insecurity is an official term used by the US Department of Agriculture to refer to situations where people do not have access to sufficient food and/or they do not know where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity can stem from financial insecurity, but it can also be caused by issues of accessibility. Are there quality grocery stores in your neighborhood? Can they be accessed through reliable public transportation?

Food insecurity is a public health crisis as it significantly impacts people's physical and mental health, their ability to focus at school and work, and their overall well-being.

Facts about food insecurity in the United States:

• 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience it annually
• Poor nutrition leads to 600,000 deaths annually as it is a contributor to heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers
• Black and Latino people living below the poverty line experience it at a rate that is double the national average

While there is not good data right now about food insecurity in pets, we know that people who struggle to get food for themselves also struggle to get food for their pets. In 2021, over 53 million people visited food banks across the US. Since then, most food banks are reporting increases in the number of visitors they are seeing. The map below shows the prevalence of food insecurity in the US by state. 

How does your state compare? Does your community have quality, accessible food options? Have you seen pet food offered at local food banks?

References

• Feeding America. (2025). What is Food Insecurity? https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/food-insecurity
• US Department of Agriculture. (2024, July 9). Nutrition Security Promotion Toolkit. https://www.fns.usda.gov/programs/nutrition-security/promotion
• US Department of Agriculture. (2025, January 8). Food Security in the U.S. - Key Statistics & Graphics. Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics

------------------------------
Kaitlyn Davis
Research Associate
UTK Program for Pet Health Equity
Knoxville, TN
------------------------------

Food insecurity is an official term used by the US Department of Agriculture to refer to situations where people do not have access to sufficient food and/or they do not know where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity can stem from financial insecurity, but it can also be caused by issues of accessibility. Are there quality grocery stores in your neighborhood? Can they be accessed through reliable public transportation?

Food insecurity is a public health crisis as it significantly impacts people's physical and mental health, their ability to focus at school and work, and their overall well-being.

Facts about food insecurity in the United States:

• 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience it annually
• Poor nutrition leads to 600,000 deaths annually as it is a contributor to heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers
• Black and Latino people living below the poverty line experience it at a rate that is double the national average

While there is not good data right now about food insecurity in pets, we know that people who struggle to get food for themselves also struggle to get food for their pets. In 2021, over 53 million people visited food banks across the US. Since then, most food banks are reporting increases in the number of visitors they are seeing. The map below shows the prevalence of food insecurity in the US by state. 

How does your state compare? Does your community have quality, accessible food options? Have you seen pet food offered at local food banks?

References

• Feeding America. (2025). What is Food Insecurity? https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/food-insecurity
• US Department of Agriculture. (2024, July 9). Nutrition Security Promotion Toolkit. https://www.fns.usda.gov/programs/nutrition-security/promotion
• US Department of Agriculture. (2025, January 8). Food Security in the U.S. - Key Statistics & Graphics. Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics

------------------------------
Kaitlyn Davis
Research Associate
UTK Program for Pet Health Equity
Knoxville, TN
------------------------------

I am the President of PAWSitive Pantry that provides pet food in the state of Vermont and Massachusetts.  We do this by try not to create new systems of distribution, but utilizing systems that already exist.  In Vermont we are lucky that we have a partnership with the Vermont Foodbank so when people pick up their food for their family that includes pet food.   In Massachusetts we have a partnering service where we match local food pantries with volunteers who support that pantry with food(donated or purchased by us).  So...  the public really doesn't know that the food is provided by PAWSitive Pantry, but that is ok as it would be very costly for us and for the clients to create a new distribution system and requiring folks to make a special trip for pet food to your facility.  Just something to think about before setting up and "in house" program.  Feel free to check out our annual report to see the impact we can make as a small volunteer run organization.  

Food insecurity is an official term used by the US Department of Agriculture to refer to situations where people do not have access to sufficient food and/or they do not know where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity can stem from financial insecurity, but it can also be caused by issues of accessibility. Are there quality grocery stores in your neighborhood? Can they be accessed through reliable public transportation?

Food insecurity is a public health crisis as it significantly impacts people's physical and mental health, their ability to focus at school and work, and their overall well-being.

Facts about food insecurity in the United States:

• 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience it annually
• Poor nutrition leads to 600,000 deaths annually as it is a contributor to heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers
• Black and Latino people living below the poverty line experience it at a rate that is double the national average

While there is not good data right now about food insecurity in pets, we know that people who struggle to get food for themselves also struggle to get food for their pets. In 2021, over 53 million people visited food banks across the US. Since then, most food banks are reporting increases in the number of visitors they are seeing. The map below shows the prevalence of food insecurity in the US by state. 

How does your state compare? Does your community have quality, accessible food options? Have you seen pet food offered at local food banks?

References

• Feeding America. (2025). What is Food Insecurity? https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/food-insecurity
• US Department of Agriculture. (2024, July 9). Nutrition Security Promotion Toolkit. https://www.fns.usda.gov/programs/nutrition-security/promotion
• US Department of Agriculture. (2025, January 8). Food Security in the U.S. - Key Statistics & Graphics. Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics

------------------------------
Kaitlyn Davis
Research Associate
UTK Program for Pet Health Equity
Knoxville, TN
------------------------------

I am the President of PAWSitive Pantry that provides pet food in the state of Vermont and Massachusetts.  We do this by try not to create new systems of distribution, but utilizing systems that already exist.  In Vermont we are lucky that we have a partnership with the Vermont Foodbank so when people pick up their food for their family that includes pet food.   In Massachusetts we have a partnering service where we match local food pantries with volunteers who support that pantry with food(donated or purchased by us).  So...  the public really doesn't know that the food is provided by PAWSitive Pantry, but that is ok as it would be very costly for us and for the clients to create a new distribution system and requiring folks to make a special trip for pet food to your facility.  Just something to think about before setting up and "in house" program.  Feel free to check out our annual report to see the impact we can make as a small volunteer run organization.  

Food insecurity is an official term used by the US Department of Agriculture to refer to situations where people do not have access to sufficient food and/or they do not know where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity can stem from financial insecurity, but it can also be caused by issues of accessibility. Are there quality grocery stores in your neighborhood? Can they be accessed through reliable public transportation?

Food insecurity is a public health crisis as it significantly impacts people's physical and mental health, their ability to focus at school and work, and their overall well-being.

Facts about food insecurity in the United States:

• 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience it annually
• Poor nutrition leads to 600,000 deaths annually as it is a contributor to heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers
• Black and Latino people living below the poverty line experience it at a rate that is double the national average

While there is not good data right now about food insecurity in pets, we know that people who struggle to get food for themselves also struggle to get food for their pets. In 2021, over 53 million people visited food banks across the US. Since then, most food banks are reporting increases in the number of visitors they are seeing. The map below shows the prevalence of food insecurity in the US by state. 

How does your state compare? Does your community have quality, accessible food options? Have you seen pet food offered at local food banks?

References

• Feeding America. (2025). What is Food Insecurity? https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/food-insecurity
• US Department of Agriculture. (2024, July 9). Nutrition Security Promotion Toolkit. https://www.fns.usda.gov/programs/nutrition-security/promotion
• US Department of Agriculture. (2025, January 8). Food Security in the U.S. - Key Statistics & Graphics. Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics

------------------------------
Kaitlyn Davis
Research Associate
UTK Program for Pet Health Equity
Knoxville, TN
------------------------------

Bailing Out Benji runs a pet food pantry out of our home office. We do it because there was a definite need in our community. Initially, our founder approached the local food banks asking them to take it on and even offered to fund the pet food if they would handle the distribution and they all declined. I'm grateful the pantries in your area were open to your partnership!! Thank you for supporting that program!

I am the President of PAWSitive Pantry that provides pet food in the state of Vermont and Massachusetts.  We do this by try not to create new systems of distribution, but utilizing systems that already exist.  In Vermont we are lucky that we have a partnership with the Vermont Foodbank so when people pick up their food for their family that includes pet food.   In Massachusetts we have a partnering service where we match local food pantries with volunteers who support that pantry with food(donated or purchased by us).  So...  the public really doesn't know that the food is provided by PAWSitive Pantry, but that is ok as it would be very costly for us and for the clients to create a new distribution system and requiring folks to make a special trip for pet food to your facility.  Just something to think about before setting up and "in house" program.  Feel free to check out our annual report to see the impact we can make as a small volunteer run organization.  

Food insecurity is an official term used by the US Department of Agriculture to refer to situations where people do not have access to sufficient food and/or they do not know where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity can stem from financial insecurity, but it can also be caused by issues of accessibility. Are there quality grocery stores in your neighborhood? Can they be accessed through reliable public transportation?

Food insecurity is a public health crisis as it significantly impacts people's physical and mental health, their ability to focus at school and work, and their overall well-being.

Facts about food insecurity in the United States:

• 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience it annually
• Poor nutrition leads to 600,000 deaths annually as it is a contributor to heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers
• Black and Latino people living below the poverty line experience it at a rate that is double the national average

While there is not good data right now about food insecurity in pets, we know that people who struggle to get food for themselves also struggle to get food for their pets. In 2021, over 53 million people visited food banks across the US. Since then, most food banks are reporting increases in the number of visitors they are seeing. The map below shows the prevalence of food insecurity in the US by state. 

How does your state compare? Does your community have quality, accessible food options? Have you seen pet food offered at local food banks?

References

• Feeding America. (2025). What is Food Insecurity? https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/food-insecurity
• US Department of Agriculture. (2024, July 9). Nutrition Security Promotion Toolkit. https://www.fns.usda.gov/programs/nutrition-security/promotion
• US Department of Agriculture. (2025, January 8). Food Security in the U.S. - Key Statistics & Graphics. Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics

------------------------------
Kaitlyn Davis
Research Associate
UTK Program for Pet Health Equity
Knoxville, TN
------------------------------