El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, the region’s leading anti‑hunger nonprofit, announced that food insecurity in the borderland has risen to 40% this year – a five‑point jump and roughly twice the national average. Interim CEO Kris Yagel said the increase reflects limited job access, technology gaps and growing disparity between the upper and lower classes.
Why the surge matters
Yagel described the El Paso area as a food desert with little measurable or sustainable agriculture. “We don’t get food locally and access is limited,” he explained, noting that about 180,000 residents now struggle to obtain reliable meals.
Impact on families
The organization serves between 1,200 and 1,500 families each day from Tuesday through Friday, providing roughly 60% produce paired with a healthy grain. Protein – especially animal protein – remains the biggest challenge. Yagel said the nonprofit once distributed 110 million pounds of food annually; that figure has fallen to about 50 million pounds.
“Many of the people we see are ordinary folks whose lives were upended by a health issue, a job loss or another unexpected event,” Yagel said. “They suddenly have to choose between keeping the lights on or putting food on the table. Our goal is to be a bridge to a better situation for anyone facing those tough choices.”
Call to action
As Hunger Action Month gets underway, Yagel urged the community to rally behind a comprehensive solution. “We are part of the solution, but we need business leaders, government officials and everyday citizens to come together and develop a plan,” he said. “Otherwise, we fear the numbers will keep climbing.”
Residents can support the effort by donating through the organization’s website or by volunteering at distribution sites. The nonprofit emphasizes that assistance is not limited to the unemployed; anyone experiencing a temporary hardship is welcome.
Looking ahead
While the outlook appears challenging, Yagel remains hopeful that a coordinated community response can reverse the trend. He highlighted the importance of local partnerships and urged policymakers to consider long‑term strategies that address the root causes of food deserts, such as expanding local agriculture and improving job training programs.
With Hunger Action Month serving as a focal point, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger hopes to raise awareness, mobilize resources and ultimately reduce the 40% food‑insecurity rate that threatens the well‑being of thousands of families across the city.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
