In America’s hunger crisis, charities and neighbors are lifelines

The pandemic made it tougher for lower-income people who already were struggling to get enough good food. Across the nation, groups are stepping up to help.

Queens, N.Y.

María Quinteres, 84, wearing an American flag face mask, waits with hundreds of others at Latinos Unidos, a group that hands out free food boxes each Friday. Food insecurity may have affected about 45 million Americans in 2020, according to Feeding America, the country’s largest hunger-relief organization.
Photograph by Natalie Keyssar
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