September is Hunger Action Month

September is Hunger Action Month

Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas joing nationwide effort

From Vicki Pillow

vpillow@foodbankofnea.org

Jonesboro, AR, September 1, 2016—This September the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, together with the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks, will mobilize across all 50 states in an effort to take action against hunger.

Hunger Action Month is designed to inspire people to take action and raise awareness of the fact that 48 million Americans, including 15 million children, are food insecure, according to the USDA.

In Northeast Arkansas, 5,000 people each week visit a soup kitchen, food pantry, or shelter associated with the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas. Children at-risk of hunger make up 27% of that number.

September marks the ninth year the Feeding America network of food banks has organized this annual call to action. The Hunger Action Month 2016 campaign asks people to consider how it must feel to live with an empty stomach, which puts a healthy life and a promising future at risk.

“One in five people in Northeast Arkansas struggles with hunger, and the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas is eager to rally around Hunger Action Month as we continue to take action against hunger,” said Christie Jordan, CEO of the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas. “Hunger is an issue that affects everyone – our child’s classmate, an office coworker or neighbor down the street.

September is an opportunity for all hunger-relief advocates to take simple steps toward supporting those in need.”

“I’ve spent many days on the road this past year, visiting food banks, food pantries, and meal programs and meeting people who are facing hunger,” said Diana Aviv, CEO of Feeding America. “I’ve seen firsthand the anguish that food insecurity and hunger can cause. It is always heartbreaking to meet a mother or father who fears that they will not be able to feed their children.

They know that their children cannot reach their full potential if they don’t have enough to eat.”

Hunger Action Day, the second Thursday in September, is a day where efforts across the country are focused for greater impact.

This year, on September 8, the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas asks supporters to share what they couldn’t do without adequate nutrition by writing on an empty plate, “On an empty stomach I can’t ______,” and filling in the blank with something they couldn’t achieve without the nutrition we need to thrive.

These photos can be posted to social media with #HungerActionMonth, @FoodBankofNEA and @FeedingAmerica to join the conversation.

“With the combined effort of Feeding America, the nationwide network of food banks and hunger advocates across the country, the goal of this campaign is to raise awareness about hunger and inspire Americans to get involved,” Aviv said. “The Feeding America network is leading the fight to end hunger in the U.S. We all have a role to play in getting food to our neighbors in need. Advocate. Educate. Volunteer.

Donate.”

To volunteer at the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas during Hunger Action Month, please call 932-3663(FOOD).

About the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, founded in 1983, provides hunger relief to people in need by raising awareness, securing resources, and distributing food through a network of non-profit agencies and programs. The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas provides emergency food assistance to 5,000 individuals each week in twelve counties through a network of 140 charitable agencies and programs. The Food Bank is a member of Feeding America and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. For additional information on the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, please visit www.foodbankofnea. org. You can also find the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas on Facebook at www.facebook. com/Food-BankofNEA, Twitter at twitter.com/foodbankofnea, and Instagram at instagram. com/foodbankofnea.

About Feeding America Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America.

Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate.

Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.