What You Can Do This Week for #HungerActionMonth
Just this week, the USDA announced that 10.5% of American households were food insecure, meaning that they couldn’t provide food to all members of the home. And food insecurity disproportionately affects some groups, including households with children, households with Black Americans, and households in the South.
#HungerActionMonth is about taking a stand against hunger. This happens one act at a time.
Here are 5 things that you can do this week.
1. Volunteer your time
Many of our food banks and pantries rely on volunteer support to operate. Spending a few hours a month can go a long way to making sure families can get the food they need, and there are safe ways to help.
- Find your local food bank or a community food program to volunteer near you
- Are you in Los Angeles or the Bay Area? Help us deliver groceries to homebound seniors with St. Francis Center and Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. Sign up at helpinghands.community
2. Raise awareness about this important issue
Every community in our country is home to families who face hunger. Learn more about who it affects and start a conversation this week with your family, friends, and colleagues.
- Check out facts about hunger in America to become an informed advocate
- Want to see numbers? Dive into US census data from USA Facts
- Find out what food insecurity looks like in your community
3. Donate or fundraise for Feeding America or your local food bank
If you are able to give financially, your donation to Feeding America, one of its member food banks, and other organizations in your community will sustain hunger relief programs.
- The Feeding America network is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Donate here
- Some companies can amplify donations by matching their employee’s charitable giving. Ask your employer if you have a matching program
4. Go for a run
What’s better than running is running for a cause. If you are going for a run this week, sign up for one of these virtual 5K run/walks to support these Feeding America food banks.
- Hunger is the Pitts 5K on Wednesday 9/15 supports New Hampshire Food Bank
- Out Run Hunger on Saturday 9/18 benefits Treasure Coast Food Bank in Florida
5. Support a virtual food drive
Many things have gone virtual this year, and food drives are no different. Funding “virtual cans of food” not only relieves you from hefting bags of groceries, but also allows food banks, who have better purchasing power than us at the supermarket, to do provide more food with those dollars.
- Learn how to organize your own virtual food drive
- Shop at a virtual food drive that others have started for Food Bank of Northern Nevada, San Diego Food Bank, or Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland
Bonus: Wear orange on #HungerActionDay, Friday 9/17
Orange is the color of hunger. Help spread awareness on Hunger Action Day by wearing orange and challenging your friends and family to do the same. Snap a selfie and tag us on social media!
