Arkansas has the highest level of food insecurity in the country, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Watch the 40/29 Feeding Hope chronicle live TONIGHT at 6:30 p.m. on 40/29 News.Its new report shows that 16.6% of Arkansas households were food insecure between 2020 and 2023.That’s higher than the national average of 11.2% and higher than any other state.What Is Food Insecurity?Food insecurity is different than hunger.Hunger is the feeling someone has when they don’t have food. Food insecurity is the consistent lack of food due to one’s economic situation.”As far as who it impacts, it could be any number of people,” Kent Eikenberry, CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, said. “It could be a senior citizen who’s trying to decide if they want to pay their medicine or buy food.”The USDA estimates that 17 million households across the country were food insecure last year.”Utility bills are through the roof right now. Groceries are through the roof right now,” Tracy Engel, Director of the River Valley Regional Food Bank, said. “A lot of families aren’t going to be able to sit down and have a Thanksgiving meal.”