This September, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, along with the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks, will come together across all 50 states in an effort to raise awareness about hunger and mobilize the public to take action.
In the eight counties served by the Foodbank, 1 in 7 people will struggle with hunger this year, including more than 1 in 5 children. These individuals and families don’t always have enough to eat, which means they don’t have the fuel they need to tackle the day. While it’s tough to complete basic activities on an empty stomach, it’s easy to make a difference. Everyone has a role to play in ending hunger.
“During Hunger Action Month, we encourage our community to come together to take action for hunger relief,” said Dan Flowers, president and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. “Help us advocate by raising awareness, make a donation, every dollar donated helps provide four meals, or volunteer your time. We thank you for finding a way to get involved and for making a difference for our neighbors struggling with hunger.”
Hunger Action Month activities:
Operation Orange: The Foodbank’s sixth annual 24-hour volunteer event, Operation Orange, will be held on Sept. 7-8, 2018. Volunteers will have the opportunity to dance the night away with a live DJ; snacks will be provided. To learn more about this fun event, visit oporange.org. Operation Orange T-Shirt: Stop by the Foodbank to pick up an Operation Orange t-shirt for a $10 donation.
Hunger Action Day of Service: You’re invited to assist our network of hunger-relief partners, including food pantries, hot meal sites and shelters, in completing projects at their sites. Volunteer projects may include outdoor landscaping, cleaning, organizing, painting, etc. and will take place on Sept. 13, 2018. Shifts will be available in the morning and afternoon and will be between 2-4 hours. To sign up to volunteer, please contact Tasha Ledrich, volunteer leader, at 330.777.1065 or tledrich@acrfb.org.
Advocate: The Foodbank needs your help throughout the year as it advocates for important policy issues that impact people facing hunger. Please visit the Foodbank’s website to sign up for action alerts at akroncantonfoodbank.org/advocate. Sept. 13 is Congressional Farm Bill Call-In Day. Please call 1.888.398.8702 and tell your members of Congress to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and strengthen The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)!
Wear Orange Day: Join Foodbank staff members and wear orange, the color of hunger relief, on Sept. 13, 2018. Share your photo on social media and tag the Foodbank and include our hashtag #ACRFB.
September marks the 11th year the Feeding America network of food banks has organized this annual call to action and the 11th year the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank has participated in the Hunger Action Month movement.
To learn more about the Foodbank and other ways you can get involved for Hunger Action Month, please visit akroncantonfoodbank.org or HungerActionMonth.org.