According to the New York Federal Reserve, 10% of families across the nation are missing meals, compared to just 4% during the depths of the COVID pandemic.
The NY Fed's latest survey was conducted in February, before the start of the war in Iran, which has driven up gas and diesel prices, adding to the money crunch on American households.
This week, Instacart launched its biggest Summer Hunger campaign yet to boost food bank donations.
It's aimed at closing the meal gap for 20 million kids who have lost access to free school meals.
Philabundance and the Food Banks of South Jersey and Delaware are among the 300 Feeding America partners.
When you visit Instacart.com/donate, you can choose from a list of participating food banks.
"You can shop directly from a curated list of items that the food bank has identified as urgent needs. And then an Instacart shopper will deliver those items directly to the food bank. And Instacart waives all delivery and service fees on every donation order," says Casey Aden-Wansbury, Instacart's VP for Global Public Policy.
Instacart hopes to get at least 300,000 items donated by the time the campaign ends on August 31.
With cuts to SNAP and higher food and fuel prices, more families now rely on donations.
The NY Fed survey found that nearly 18% of families had received SNAP benefits, up from 10.6% in 2020.
More than 38% of lower-income families are receiving SNAP benefits, up from about 22% six years ago.
The Agriculture Department ended its own research on food insecurity last year.
It said the studies did "nothing more than fear monger."