September is Hunger Action Month!

Feeding America Network food banks across the country invite you to take action to end hunger

Hunger Action Month

BARRE, VT – September 1, 2018 – This September the Vermont Foodbank, 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 Vermont, 153,000 people turn to the Vermont Foodbank for help finding their next meal. That number includes 1 in 4 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. 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.

“Together, with the help of our fellow Vermonters, we are working hard to ensure that everyone in our state has access to enough healthy food to reach their full potential,” says Vermont Foodbank CEO, John Sayles. “When everyone comes together to take action against hunger, we can make our state a place where everyone can thrive and our children can grow up strong and well nourished. Join us this Hunger Action Month to make that a reality.”

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 13, the Vermont Foodbank 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, @VermontFoodbank and @FeedingAmerica to join the conversation.

The Vermont Foodbank is also offering several other fun ways for Vermonters to take action this September.

They invite individuals, groups, and businesses to visit their local orchard this Hunger Action Month to Pick For Your Neighbor. At participating orchards, people can pick and purchase extra apples for donation to the Foodbank to help get fresh, healthy food to people facing hunger. For a list of participating orchards and to learn more, visit: vtfoodbank.org/PFYN.

To shed light on the issue, the Foodbank is collecting stories from Vermonters about how hunger has affected them and their communities and why they feel it is important to end hunger. Stories can be shared anonymously at: vtfoodbank.org/share-your-story.

And they also encourage all Vermonters to take action by donating, volunteering, and helping raise awareness about the issue of hunger.

To learn more about the Vermont Foodbank and other ways you can get involved for Hunger Action Month in Vermont, please visit vtfoodbank.org/HAM.

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Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization, providing nutritious food through a network of more than 300 community partners – food shelves, meal sites, schools, hospitals, and housing sites. Food insecurity has increased dramatically as a result of the pandemic, economic disruptions, and recent flooding. The Vermont Foodbank and its network have been on the front lines, working to ensure that everyone has the food they need to maintain their health. Last year, the Vermont Foodbank provided over 12 million pounds of food to people throughout Vermont. The Vermont Foodbank, a member of Feeding America, is nationally recognized as one of the most effective and efficient nonprofits and food banks in the nation.