This September Food Finders Food Bank, together with the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks, will mobilize across all 50 states in an effort to bring an end to hunger. Hunger Action Month is designed to inspire people to take action and raise awareness of the fact that 41 million Americans, including nearly 13 million children, are food insecure, according to the USDA.
In North Central Indiana, more than 77,000 people struggle with hunger and may not know where they’ll find their next meal. That number includes more than 23,000 kids who may not have enough to eat.
September marks the eleventh year the Feeding America network of food banks has organized this annual call to action and the ninth year Food Finders Food Bank has participated in the Hunger Action Month movement. This year the campaign will focus on the strong connections between hunger and health.
The Hunger Action Month 2018 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.
“We believe that everyone should have access to enough healthy food to reach their full potential; especially our children, who cannot grow, succeed or learn on an empty stomach,” shared Kier Crites Scherger, Chief Operating Officer at Food Finders. “Hunger Action Month provides an opportunity for folks in our community to take a deeper dive and to educate themselves around hunger-related issues and methods of advocacy. I encourage you to check out our list of upcoming events and get involved!”
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 13th, Food Finders Food Bank 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, @FoodFindersFoodBank and @FeedingAmerica to join the conversation.
In North Central Indiana, Food Finders has many activities planned to engage the community in hunger relief and awareness building, including:
- September 1 – Visit our booth and chat with our staff at the Mosey Down Main Street, 6 pm – 10 pm
- September 5 & 19 – “Warehouse Wednesday” hosted weekly, 5 pm – 7 pm
- September 12 – “Warehouse Wednesday” from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
- September 14 & 21 “Fill the Food Bank Friday” hosted weekly, 1 pm – 3 pm.
- September 8 & 22 – Visit our booth and chat with our staff at the Lafayette Farmers Market, 8 am – 12 pm
- September 13 – Hunger Action Day! Wear Orange and tell your friends and family how you’re fighting hunger in our community.
- September 15 – Hunger Hike 5K run, 9 am, Celery Bog Nature Area, West Lafayette. Register at hungerhike.org
- September 16 – Hunger Hike 3K walk 2 pm, Riehle Plaza, Lafayette. Register at hungerhike.org
- September 26 – Family Volunteer Night at our warehouse, 5 pm – 7 pm. Register at food-finders.org.
- September 27 – Nourish + Knowledge Luncheon at Food Finders 11:30 am – 1 pm. Register at food-finders.org.
“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 learn more about Food Finders Food Bank and other ways you can get involved for Hunger Action Month in North Central Indiana, please visit www.food-finders.org/hunger-action-month or HungerActionMonth.org.