In the days before laptops and tablets, books served as the primary means of teaching children. One way to help children understand the world was through reading nursery rhymes. One in particular comes to mind as Americans struggle to feed their families.
Old Mother Hubbard, a humorous poem, focuses on a woman who goes to find a treat for her hungry dog – a bone – only to discover that the cupboard is empty. Old Mother Hubbard had good intentions but unfortunately, was unable to deliver on her promises. Certainly many Americans can all relate.
Recently, the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) 2026 Hunger Report revealed that food insecurity in the D.C. metropolitan area (DMV) has reached a five-year high. Thirty-eight percent of households are experiencing food insecurity over the prior year – a rate which exceeds pandemic recovery levels (33%) in 2022.
But it’s not just the escalating costs with which we should be most concerned. It’s how people are feeling emotionally and psychologically about the pain they’re experiencing.
According to those surveyed, an estimated 4,000 people, fewer than half of DMV households expressed high confidence in accessing the food they needed.
“After unprecedented job losses last year and the deepening pressure of high prices for essentials like gas and food, our community has seen food insecurity reach its highest level in five years,” said Radhia Muthiah, president and CEO, CAFB. “This year’s Hunger Report underscores the deteriorating state of food security in our region and the need for decisive action across every sector. With recent policy changes likely to place additional pressures on families in the years ahead, the challenge before us is not only to meet the growing need, but to work together to help more families achieve lasting stability.”
While it serves as a sobering report, the news gets worse as the changes enacted in House Resolution 1 will continue to profoundly impact thousands of people’s federal benefits in the DMV.
Even a partial loss of benefits stands to significantly impact those who turn to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to feed their households with 56% of SNAP recipients reporting their financial situation worsened over the past year. Further, as more people turn to the charitable food network for assistance, those organizations will face growing strain to meet the need.
Returning to the nursery rhyme, at least Old Mother Hubbard wanted to feed her hungry dog.
In comparison, the person who holds the pursestrings on the cupboard in America, the president, seems to have no intention of fulfilling his promises. Nor do his colleagues in the House or Senate.
So what’s a hungry family to do? We hear you Mother Hubbard, but it’s hard to be patient when you’re hungry. Just ask Mother Hubbard’s dog.
