We all want a better region, where our communities are strong, smart, healthy, and able to put their creativity and intelligence toward our better future.

Food is one of our most basic needs. Food is also medicine, energy, community, and hope. More than 50 million people in the U.S. face hunger and don’t have enough food to put on their tables.

Because access to a stable source of nutritious food is such a basic and critical, yet too often missing, component of a healthy life, the 12 Ohio foodbanks, in partnership with their member pantries and other organizations, are working with the Feeding America nationwide network of foodbanks to raise awareness of this critical issue and take action during the month of September, as part of the national Hunger Action Month. The 2013 Hunger Action Month theme is “Together, We Can Solve Hunger.”

Hunger Action Month is an opportunity to join a movement that has a real and lasting impact on our effort to feed people in Southeast Ohio. As individuals, charities, businesses and government, we all have a role to play in getting food to those in need. Whether it’s by advocating and raising awareness, making donations, or volunteering, there are many ways to make a difference during Hunger Action Month.

We’re asking everyone to join us, to help solve hunger on behalf of the 52,000 people in Southeast Ohio (1 in 6), including over 18,500 children under age 18 (nearly 1 in 3), that struggle with hunger.

Here are a few things you can do to get involved and to help solve hunger in our region:

Opportunities to get involved include:

1. PARTICIPATE in Hunger Action Day and GO ORANGE. On Sept. 5, we kick off our month-long effort to raise awareness for hunger-relief. Express your support by wearing orange! Take a picture of you and your business or group in orange and post to our Facebook page: facebook.com/SEOhioFoodbank. Show your support online as well by turning your Facebook and Twitter profile orange; “Like” us on Facebook, stay informed, and share our status updates.

2. DONATE to the SE Ohio Foodbank in time and resources. When you support the Foodbank, you are supporting the fight against hunger in our region and the 10-county network of over 60 Foodbank member agencies! For every $1 you donate, you provide up to three meals to those in need!

3. ROUND UP your grocery bill at your local Kroger. When you round up at the register, your donation comes directly to the Foodbank! Also, designate the SE Ohio Foodbank for Community Rewards on your Kroger Plus Shopper Card (it costs you nothing)!

4. ATTEND and CONNECT with us at our Open House on Sept. 24 from 5 – 7 p.m. It will include tours, opportunity to volunteer packing food boxes, and opportunities to learn more about how you can get involved in “Feeding Southeast Ohio.”

5. ASK your member of Congress and other elected officials to visit the Foodbank and send a Paper Plate message to them through our Facebook page. Write on a blank paper plate about one of the below questions; then take a picture with their plate and post it on our Facebook page facebook.com/SEOhioFoodbank:

• Why is working together to solve hunger important to you?

• How does the prevalence of hunger in Southeast Ohio make you feel?

• What would you say to others to encourage them to take part in the fight against hunger?

6. PLEDGE to take the SNAP Challenge and live on just $4.50 a day. Get a sense of what life is like

for those struggling to put food on the table by shopping for your meals with the daily average per person benefit provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as Food Stamps).

7. VOLUNTEER and stay in touch with us to be an on-going part of the solution to end hunger! Contact us to find out about opportunities for individuals and groups to volunteer with us: 740-385-6813.

 

Tracy Galway is the director of the SE Ohio Foodbank & Kitchen.