Hunger Action Month

SECOND HARVEST AND FEEDING AMERICA NETWORK RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE OF HUNGER THROUGHOUT HUNGER ACTION MONTH

           

Grand Rapids, MN  (August 27, 2015) – Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, a member of  the Feeding America® nationwide network of food banks, will observe Hunger Action Month^TM – a nationwide initiative designed to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger and join the movement to help end hunger. Hunger advocates from north central Minnesota and across the country are working together this September to shine a light on the issue of hunger in America – including one of five children in Itasca County.

“There are over 5,100 food insure people, including almost 2,000 children in Itasca County struggling with hunger, and Second Harvest is eager to rally around Hunger Action Month as we continue our fight to solve this issue,” said Sue Estee , ED of Second Harvest. “Hunger is an issue that affects everyone – our child’s classmate, an office coworker or neighbor down the street. September is an opportunity for all hunger-relief advocates to take simple steps towards supporting those in need.”

Starting Tuesday, September 1, the trees at Old Central School in Grand Rapids will light up orange thanks to Minnesota Power, Lake Country Power, and the City of Grand Rapids. Second Harvest will commemorate Hunger Action Day®, which will be held Thursday, September 3.  Hunger Action Day is an opportunity for the country to learn more about how hunger affects their community. Second Harvest will hold its annual Donor Brunch and a Kids Pack Volunteer Day will take place on Monday, September 28^th. 

Every month, Second Harvest provides food for approximately 17,000 people in the seven county region served by the food bank. Over 2,200 commodity food boxes are distributed to low income seniors, over 2,000 school children receive Kids Packs of food to take home for the weekend and about 1,000 families are served at the Second Harvest Food Shelf.  In our area, 12% of the population is food insecure and one in five children are at risk of hunger. 

“Domestic hunger affects every community in our nation, preventing millions of families, seniors and children from thriving,” said Matt Knott, president of Feeding America. “This September we all are given a chance to come together and make a difference for those facing hunger."

Second Harvest is one of 200 member Feeding America food banks, which serves every county in the United States and provides over 3 billion meals each year to Americans in need.

To learn more about Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month please visit www.hungeractionmonth.org.

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About Second Harvest

Second Harvest North Central Food Bank serves 115 hunger relief agencies in Koochiching, Itasca, Cass, Aitkin, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties. In 2014, 4.8 million pounds of food and grocery products were distributed through those agencies. For more information regarding Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, visit www.secondharvestncfb.com or call 218.326.4420.

 

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate.  Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.