Hunger grows among active duty military

Nearly 1 in 5 active duty service members in Northeast Florida are struggling to feed themselves and their families, a local hunger group says.

Feeding Northeast Florida, the area’s largest food bank, serves 12 counties, from Duval to Levy County. The organization says more than 18% of active duty military members within its region are food insecure.

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Cameron Triggs of Feeding Northeast Florida says contributing factors include lower pay for younger service members, difficulties for a partner to find a steady job due to the transient nature of the military and the higher prices for groceries.

“I think it’s an important issue for us to consider,” Triggs said. “I also think its an important issue because it’s assumed that those who are active duty military or veterans, that this would not be an issue. But it is, and I think if we bring awareness to it we can partner together to solve hunger amongst our military neighbors,”

Military members can find a food bank by going to feedingnefl.org or contacting Fleet Reserve Association Branch 290 in Atlantic Beach.