Miscellaneous
(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- A report conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found approximately 1 out of 9 Americans (11.1 percent) were food insecure in 2018 and according to experts it's a "huge problem" in Rock Hill and York County. One group working to combat the problem is Pilgrim’s Inn, a nonprofit organization founded in 1984, which also strives to help and empower the homeless, families in need and those struggling with food and financial insecurity. According to Juanita Lester, the executive director of Pilgrim’s Inn, food insecurity can be defined in multiple ways depending on every individual’s situation. “In some cases, food insecurity may be defined as not having access to food. In others, it’s not having access to healthy or adequate food. Or it could be not being able to determine what types of food are best for you because of health issues or other types of issues that mandate you eat a certain type of diet,” said Lester. Statistics collected by Pilgrim’s Inn show the food pantry provided food to 3,702 people in 2019. officials said the elderly and disabled are often the most impacted by food insecurity.