The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Effects on Hunger in Nevada

Without question, Nevada’s residents are taking incredibly hard hits from the COVID-19 pandemic. New counts show that the state’s positivity rate is continuing to rise as we move into the winter. Health issues from the pandemic have abetted other Nevada state crises like poverty and homelessness. New data suggests that the pandemic’s effects on hunger though, may be some of the worst in the country.

A report from the United Way of the National Capital Area found that Nevada is the third most food-insecure state following the COVID-19 pandemic. The ranking was found through a scoring system that factored in pre-existing hunger statistics, policy responses to the pandemic and certain factors that indicate greater threats of hunger.

One factor that especially contributed to Nevada’s unique susceptibility to hunger is the state’s workforce. According to the report, Nevada had the highest proportion of workers’ in the labor force employed in sectors that are especially threatened by food insecurity. Feeding America states that the hospitality industry is the most vulnerable to food insecurity. When about three quarters of Nevada’s population lives in a hospitality and entertainment focused city, it is easy to see how a hunger hit on that industry could be devastating to the state.

So what is being done in Nevada to help fight food insecurity?

For starters, residents facing hunger have been able to make use of hunger relief programs, with many more Nevadans making visits to their local food pantries. This, in turn, has created a huge demand which local food drives aren’t equipped to handle. At the end of October, a federal bill was passed to allow states the ability to manage support cases virtually, allowing for the extension of SNAP to more Nevadans.

Another solution to hunger in Nevada sought to also tackle unemployment across the restaurant industry due to the reduction in dining across the state. Earlier this year, many restaurants in Las Vegas and greater Nevada began to run emergency food preparation and delivery services wherein restaurant staff could be hired to help feed the hungry. Many restaurants also worked with mutual aid funds to help support waitstaff and others experiencing hunger themselves.

In the end, it will take this out-of-the-box thinking in conjunction with major public support to fight hunger in Nevada and across the country. You can review Nevada’s hunger and read more about the nation’s hunger challenges post-COVID-19 here.