More than 3,400 Russell Countians are considered food insecure, according to data from Feeding America Kentucky’s Heartland.
The new Feeding America Map the Meal Gap study reports that in 2022, more than 19 percent of Russell County residents were considered food insecure. That’s more than 5 percent higher than the national average.
The percentages are higher for Russell County children, as 23.6 percent of children in the county, or around 970 local children, are considered food insecure.
Food insecurity is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life.
Food insecurity rates in surrounding counties range from 18 percent in Adair County to 20.6 percent in Wayne County.
