And finally tonight, we launch the next installment in our digital project, the Change series, where we focus on possible solutions to some of the state's most pressing social and economic challenges.

Food insecurity isn't a new problem in New Jersey, but the demand for assistance has grown.

And meeting the need goes far beyond just access to food pantries.

Connections need to be established with clients to not only help them put food on the table, but address their larger needs.

Contributing writer Jon Hurdle joins me now for a look at how agencies are trying to adapt while also improve services.

Jon, it's so good to have you in the studio.

What an excellent piece you did.

I'm so curious why demand is still so high, though.

We are removed from the public health crisis of the pandemic.

The short answer is, is is food high food prices?

And what I'm what I've been hearing from a lot of people in the food aid system, whether they be food banks or food or food pantries or or government agencies, is that people are having trouble affording food.

And it reminds me of something that I heard from from a former food food bank executive who said rent eats first.

So people often have to make a choice between whether they're going to pay their insurance bills or whether they're going to pay their rent or whether they're going to pay their their car payments, whatever.

And and in some cases, they are increasingly they are turning to food banks because they because there is a free source of food there.

Well, sure, because it's not just food, it's consumer prices overall, we have seen grown and that money has to get distributed throughout.

So how many people are we talking in New Jersey who are in need and who are right now established to get it?

Well, the what the state says is that there are approximately 800,000 New Jerseyans who are recipients of of of SNAP.

That is the federal program that used to be called food.

Food stamps.

And and and that's has that was kind of a revelation to me in the course of reporting the story is that there are really that many people who who are food insecure.

These are people who don't necessarily have.

Who don't have consistent access to healthy food.

And that is the definition of food insecurity.

Consistent access.

Consistent.

The key there.

And so folks who are in, say, a food desert, they may be more prone to being included in this list.

What is the state doing and how are food pantries stepping up?

Well, food pantries are stepping up in a number of ways.

One is that they are distributing more fresh produce, more fruits and vegetables.

Now, that's been going on for a while and that that preceded the pandemic.

The pandemic.

But what the food exactly, food pantry executives will tell you is that is that this is an attempt to persuade their clients to eat more fruits and vegetables because for the simple reason that they are, it's it's better for them.

It tends to reduce the likelihood of illnesses like obesity and high blood pressure, heart disease and so on, which comes which may come with eating lots of processed foods.

So that's one of the ways in which they in which the food banks are stepping up.

But clearly, there is a need and so is the state designating more money.

If we're talking about almost a million residents who are eligible or getting receiving SNAP benefits.

How is the state looking to solve this food insecurity crisis?

Well, one of the ways that the state is stepping up is by the legislature voting more money for force to deal with food insecurity.

The governor's budget for the coming fiscal year, of course, is just a proposal, but it's he's planning to spend around about $100 million on on this on food insecurity.

And this is up from $85 million in the current fiscal year.

And are these food banks and pantries, are they coordinating their efforts because we have so much more data at our fingertips now to pinpoint folks?

Are they using that?

Yes, they certainly are.

And what I'm hearing is that people is that food banks are using data to identify sources of food need, such as poverty, unemployment, immigration.

And so if they can if they identify that things like that are noticeable in in a particular areas, then they will concentrate their efforts in that area.

That opens the door for them to lead them to other services.

Jon Hurdle.

You can check out his change series piece on our website, NJSpotlightNews.org.

So good to see you.

You're welcome.