Food insecurity — and outright hunger — are not new problems for families in Appalachia.

But inflation, continued economic challenges and changes in (or elimination of) state and federal supports mean right now the danger is significant.

An average of 13% of families in this part of the country receive food stamp benefits.

For families with children under age 18, the average rate is 26%. In West Virginia, nearly 16% of the state’s population — more than 277,000 people — participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; in Ohio, approximately 12% of the population — nearly 1.4 million people need SNAP.

We know it’s an issue that hits close to home.

We know by listening to worries from our teacher friends who tell stories of children whose only good meals are provided by the schools, and who sometimes ask for extra food to take home to their families on the weekends — perhaps so younger siblings will have something, too. We know of older relatives or neighbors living on fixed incomes and maybe even unable to get out to the grocery store regularly who need a hand.

And then there are those we don’t know about; those we think don’t fit the narrative.

Hunger and food insecurity can affect anyone. It is because we don’t know that we must look for opportunities to help as many people as possible, through organizations such as our local food pantries and nonprofits.

Hunger and food insecurity are not always visible, but they are everywhere. Maybe WE can’t be everywhere, but we can be here, today, ready to help.