About this series
Going Hungry explores the dimensions of daily life in West Virginia, “coal country” as it’s known, where chronic job loss has impacted every aspect of life since the industry’s decline began in the 1960s. For generations, communities have grappled with teacher shortages, homelessness, business closures and food insecurity, problems that worsened when the coronavirus struck in March and West Virginians began to see their children go hungry.
This project was produced in collaboration with Mountain State Spotlight, a nonprofit news organization that aims to hold the powerful accountable and tell the stories of West Virginians and the issues facing their communities. The civic news website is led by award-winning reporter and MacArthur fellow Ken Ward Jr. and Greg Moore, former executive editor of the Charleston Gazette-Mail. The newsroom, which will begin publishing regularly in September, includes four Report for America corps members covering poverty, public health, economic development and other subjects.
