The Importance of Food Security
Food insecurity is the condition in which individuals lack consistent access to food to support an active, healthy life. It can be chronic or intermittent, and it often reflects not only insufficient quantity of food, but also limited access to quality, variety, and stability in food supply over time. Its effects are far-reaching, contributing to poorer physical and mental health, higher rates of chronic disease, weaker educational outcomes for children and students, and reduced workforce participation, productivity, and long-term economic mobility.
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14%
of U.S. households currently face food insecurity
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1 in 15
children in the U.S. lives in a food-insecure household
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50+ million
people turned to pantries and food banks for help in 2025
Reliable food systems reduce disruptions across production and distribution while enabling innovation in agriculture, logistics, and food delivery, making food security both a community need and an economic imperative.
Our Role
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation sits at the intersection of local insight and national scale. State and local chambers are often closest to the realities facing employers and communities, while national businesses bring resources, expertise, and operational capabilities. The Foundation connects these perspectives to translate shared priorities into coordinated action through convenings, research, and practical resources like From Plan to Plate: A Toolkit for Addressing Food Insecurity.
This work is also strengthened by our partnership with coalitions like The Interrupt, which brings together partners across sectors to advance place-based, community-centered solutions—including access to nutritious food.
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Every organization has different strengths—and there are many ways to contribute. Our toolkit provides step-by-step guidance to help businesses and local chambers of commerce identify where they can have the greatest impact.
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