A Resource For Food Accessibility - Highlighting Lemontree
For millions of American families, food insecurity has little to do with whether someone is working. It has everything to do with whether work pays enough, stays consistent, and comes with the stability needed to plan for basic needs.
For many, putting food on the table each day is a challenge. In fact, in 2026, one in ten families skips meals due to insufficient food and insufficient funds to buy more. This rate is double what it was in 2020, at the height of the pandemic. Additionally, over the last few years, the amount of people reaching out to the Empower Work text line about job loss, job search, or job decisions has also more than doubled from 22% in 2023 to 61% by the end of 2025. And the need for support is only increasing.
This is the reality Lemontree, a nonprofit food assistance platform, confronts every day — and it's a reality that overlaps closely with the workplace and employment challenges Empower Work exists to address.
“I was let go for no reason. Been there for almost 4 years, no problems for 3.5 years, got a new boss and been trying to get rid of me and he has succeeded. I have never been treated so badly by a company. Can you send me a list of resources I can go to? Please, I am raising my granddaughter and get no financial assistance.” -Rhonda, Lemontree user
For many, food insecurity is brought on by unemployment, or inconsistent and/or insufficient employment. For others, despite full-time employment, having enough to eat each day remains out of reach.
“So many folks come to us because they’re experiencing job instability – some who had long careers and never had to ask for help before, and some who just can’t find a job to make ends meet right now. Most of the people we work with don’t want handouts. They want to contribute to their community, but they need to be able to take care of their families first.” -Kasumi Quinlan, Lemontree Co-Founder and Executive Director
The rising costs of groceries and other necessities like rent, utilities, and transportation mean that families are experiencing food insecurity at growing rates–regardless of employment status. Nearly 60% of food insecure households have at least one adult employed full-time.
Often, inconsistent, partial, or underpaid employment can make it harder to qualify for crucial benefits like SNAP, WIC, TANF, or Medicaid, which are designed to alleviate food insecurity and cover other basic needs, like housing and healthcare.
“Thanks for narrowing these resources down for me. It helps a lot while trying to land a job and applying for assistance. You all are life savers, literally. I never thought I'd need help and I promise to give back the moment I can. Thanks a million.” -Jon, Lemontree user
Food access is just one dimension of wellbeing and economic mobility, but it's often the first to fall. You can’t impress in a job interview if your stomach is grumbling. You can't study for a test if your brain is focused on where your next meal is coming from.
Economic mobility isn't just about finding a job; it's about finding stable, sufficient, well-supported work–and having somewhere to turn when a job isn't providing that stability. Food insecurity and workplace instability are two sides of the same coin. Addressing one without the other leaves families stuck.
Working alongside organizations like Empower Work, Lemontree is helping build a fuller picture of what economic security actually requires: not just a paycheck, but a paycheck–and a workplace–that can be counted on.
