A new report from Feeding America projects a 42 percent increase in food insecurity rates during the year 2020 in Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s service area.

On this week’s Food Podcast presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union, host Brian Gulish discusses why the increase is happening, which includes changes to unemployment and poverty rates due to the covid-19 pandemic.

“Food insecurity in the Food Bank’s 11 county service area was 10.8 percent in 2018,” said Gulish. “The new 2020 projection estimates a 15.4 percent food insecurity rate, a 42 percent increase from 2018.”

In 2018 (the most recent data reported by Feeding America), there were approximately 260,390 food insecure individuals in southwestern Pennsylvania. The new 2020 projection estimates 369,450 individuals don’t have access to affordable, nutritious food.

Joining Gulish on the podcast is Clearview Federal Credit Union CEO Ron Celaschi. Celaschi provides tips for saving and spending during challenging economic times, particularly during the ongoing pandemic, during the Financial Recipes for Success segment of the show.

Listen: Food insecurity rates rise during pandemic

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