09/03/2026
Key Hunger Statistics according to Feeding America
Overall Hunger: 15.1% of residents (about 420,120 individuals) in Harvesters' 27-county service area lack consistent food access.
Child Food Insecurity: 20% of children (more than 128,000 kids) are affected, representing a 17% increase over previous figures.
Major reasons
Rising costs for housing, groceries, and gas, alongside recent cuts to federal SNAP benefits
CUTS WERE MADE TO SNAP?
Some of the biggest cuts to SNAP took effect soon after the bill’s passage.
The law raised the maximum age from 54 to 64 for those required to work, volunteer or participate in job training at least 80 hours a month to receive benefits.
Parents of children older than 14 are no longer exempt from work requirements. Blanket exemptions for groups such as veterans and people experiencing homelessness were also removed. Some immigrants who are legally living in the country, including asylum seekers, are no longer eligible.
Altogether, the cuts have resulted in more than 4.5 million people losing food assistance, including more than 30,000 people in Kansas and nearly 50,000 people in Missouri, according to state agencies. Tens of thousands of children across the two states have lost food stamps.
Food pantries across the region are struggling to meet demand as many families face reduced or frozen SNAP benefits.
A client wheels a cart filled with food at the Redemptorist Center food pantry on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Kansas City. Food pantries across the region are struggling to meet demand as many families face reduced or frozen SNAP benefits. Emily Curiel [email protected]
One of the Disabled recipients of Tiny Pantry Times recently told me that her food stamps have now been cut to $120 for the month for herself for her Disabled son and her mother. I’m not sure how people live on that one,  so your donations are vital to helping these people.
During the month of September, please think about attending our fundraiser on October 17, host a food drive, or spread the word in your community about the service that Tiny Pantry Times provides. We cannot do this without you. 
