Impact of Covid-19
How Covid-19 Made Food Insecurity Worse
Since the closing of schools in March of 2020, youth have had little to no access to school food banks and programs. Rising unemployment has also put a strain on government programs and food bank's supply of food and funding. Because of that, there are many families who have been struggling with hunger and food insecurity since the beginning of the pandemic.
The shortage of food available to newly unemployed families has thrown youth into a state of fear and food insecurity. Children and teens in these households are beginning to experience the effects of hunger and food insecurity. If they are not able to be helped in time, they will begin to experience malnutrition and the physical and mental effects of it. Following that, their behavior will change drastically to create more lasting effects.
Children and Covid-19
Children with parents who were recently unemployed are more vulnerable than ever before. They can still be heavily impacted by hunger and food insecurity's effect on their health and brain development. Stopping these effects before they become a permanant part of their lives should be of highest priority.
Teens and Covid-19
Teens in families who are beginning to experience food insecurity and hunger because of their parents recent unemployment will begin to experience the mental health effects after a few months of food insecurity. They will have started to get involved in managing the family food usage and begin to ignore their own development.
There are 47,460 youth in Maine who are struggling with hunger and food insecurity. Our mission is to end food insecurity in Maine by bring that number down to zero. To do that we have partnered with schools, manage food banks, and hold food drives and distribution events.
Read about how we are making a difference in the communities of York County, Maine. It can't hurt to hear someone else's opinion of us!