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For a majority of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµns, the holiday season is a time of celebration, feasting, and thankfulness. In the midst of our merriment, however, it’s important to remember that while many of us are planning our holiday meals, millions of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµns will be wondering where they are going to get their next meal.Ìý

Ìýrecently revealed the results of its quadrennial study,ÌýÌý2014Ìý(176 pages, PDF) — the largest, most comprehensive study of its kind. The study concluded that, in the most recent calendar year, one in seven ¾«¶«Ó°Òµns — or more than 46 million people — sought food assistance from the Feeding ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ network.

On the surface, people relying on foodbanks may not appear to be “hungry.” They may have a home and a job. Yet all too often, they struggle to get enough to eat for themselves and, in many cases, their families. Many qualify as working poor — they work long hours but are paid such meager wages that they are forced to choose between paying the heating bill and buying food. And for a person living paycheck to paycheck, one car problem or unforeseen illness can have devastating consequences. Despite their hard work, food-insecure people often find financial stability out of reach.