Help Kick Hunger Action Month into Action
Source: Mary Mahan
Mary Mahan, Staff Writer
What Is Hunger Action Month?
Forty-eight million people in the United States live with hunger every day, which translates to one out of seven Americans struggling with hunger.
These statistics not only include children but middle-aged persons and seniors, spanning from small rural cities to massive industrialized ones. In 2008, Feeding America designated September to be national Hunger Action Month to raise awareness and to expand people’s knowledge about the hunger crisis that affects so many fellow Americans. During this month of hunger awareness, there is also a designated Hunger Action Day. This year, according to Feeding America’s website, Hunger Action Day falls on the second Thursday of the month, September 14.
How to Take Action Against Hunger
One of the best ways to stand up against this country’s hunger crisis is to support the food banks and ministries in your county and surrounding counties. South Carolina alone has 747,000 people that are food insecure; inside of Greenville County, there are 58,000 people who do not have a sufficient supply of food.
The first step to fight against hunger in Greenville is to donate, donate, donate. Food banks are always looking for and accepting food items. Nonperishable items like canned soups and vegetables, crackers, ramen noodles, canned pasta, boxed drinks and more are always accepted at local food banks. Local Greenville organizations like Samaritan’s House and From God to You Ministry are always accepting food offerings.
Along with donating food to ministries and banks around Greenville, you can also contribute to the fight against hunger by donating your time. Food organizations are always looking for volunteers to serve food and put together packages to send out into the community for those unable to travel. Volunteering at a food bank not only gives the opportunity to help those in need and in hunger, it presents the opportunity to show the love of Christ to others.
Another way to take action and get the community involved is to host a food drive. All it takes to have one is a location and some help. Let neighbors and friends know about it and ask for support. Ask them to spread the word and before long, canned food and box drinks will be piling up in the front yard, church parking lot, school gym or wherever there is space available. Take all the donations to the closest food bank and thank those who helped.
How to Spread Awareness
It has never been easier to spread ideas and boost awareness of issues. With social media small spheres of influence turn into a national audience. Feeding America has several social ways that they suggest to get people around the country spreading the incredibly big problem that is the hunger crisis.
One way to get involved is to make an “Empty Stomach Plate” and share it on all your preferred social medias. To create one, take a marker or two and right “On an empty stomach I can’t_____” and then fill in the blank with whatever it is that you would not be able to do with the absence of food in your stomach. Snap a picture of the plate and post it! (Like pictured above) Use the #HungerActionMonth to increase your amount of awareness across the nation!
Source: Mary Mahan
The other simple way that Feeding America suggests to do to spread awareness may seem a bit silly; all you need is a spoon and a nose. Take a spoon and attempt to balance it on your nose, if you cannot balance it just hold it up with your hand. Take a quick selfie before the spoon loses balance and then post it! Make sure to use #Spoontember to reach a larger audience!
Where to Take Action
There are food banks all across South Carolina and the nation that would love food donations and volunteers, but here are the local ones here in Greenville:
v United Ministries Administration and Emergency Assistance
v North Greenville Food Crisis Ministry
Don’t live in Greenville, or even in South Carolina? Research food pantries and banks in your area, or visit feedingamerica.org, enter your zip code and see how close you are to helping those in need!
Visit this interactive map to learn more statistics about the crisis that is this country’s food insecurity and see how your county/state compares to the rest of the United States.
