A new study shows that nearly 20 percent of South Dakota children are struggling with hunger.
The study, “Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2011,” says more than 38,000 children under the age of 18 in the state do not have adequate access to nutritious food.
Feeding South Dakota and Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, released the study Thursday.
Feeding South Dakota Executive Director Matt Gassen says in a news release that while the data found in the report is not surprising, it is still staggering.
Nationally, one in four children is food insecure.