This September the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks will mobilize across all fifty 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 48 million Americans, including 15 million children, are food insecure, according to the USDA.
September marks the ninth year Feeding America has organized this annual call to action. This year the campaign will focus on the strong connections between hunger and health.
“Adequate nutrition is essential for a strong foundation in life,” said Diana Aviv, CEO of Feeding America. “Children who do not have access to a healthy diet don’t have the energy or ability to learn, grow and ultimately succeed. We must come together and take action now—our children cannot continue to ‘run on empty.’”
According to Feeding America’s study, Hunger in America 2014, nearly half of households served by the Feeding America network include someone that is in either fair or poor health.
“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 Aviv. “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.”
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.
Hunger Action Day®, the second Thursday in September, is a day where efforts across the country are focused for greater impact.
This year, on Sept. 8, Feeding America 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.
These photos can be posted to social media with #HungerActionMonth 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. “Feeding America 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 Feeding America and other ways you can get involved for Hunger Action Month 2016 in your community, please visit hungeractionmonth.org.