Originally posted in the Vacaville Reporter: Hunger Action Month is an opportunity to raise the issue of hunger as one voice across the nation. In September, we reach out to our supporters and volunteers, those who are already concerned about hunger, and ask them to join us in action. We invite them to share about the issue with their friends, family and coworkers who might not even know hunger is a problem. With this collective effort we are able to spread the fact that one in six Americans is at risk of going hungry to many more people than the Food Bank could on our own. The power of social media, email and face-to-face conversations about why we Turn Orange each September have spread the message to all areas of the community.
Our largest area of support, our volunteers, donors and staff, are all given a simple and clear message. Hunger is everywhere, and we can all do something about it. They are invited to Turn Orange to make a bold statement to start the conversation about hunger. Their enthusiasm spreads to their circle of influence, including those who might not be as involved with hunger relief. Every time they share a postcard with a business or wear their Turn Orange t-shirt, they are standing up for the people we serve and raising awareness.
For the people our supporters reach who do not know as much about hunger in America, we appreciate their willingness to learn. We have statistics based on census data and third-party surveys to show the incredible need across all walks of life. We can reference academic papers and books that discuss poverty and hunger in great detail. But we can also teach people about hunger in their community by taking them to one of our Community Produce Program distributions. People will see a program that distributes fresh fruit and vegetables directly to low-income individuals. Those who visit any of our distributions will see that the people we serve look a lot like them. Families with children need help with groceries; senior citizens need food to supplement their Social Security income. People need food assistance when they live in an area that has expensive housing and a high cost of living.
For those who still do not feel hunger is an issue, I consider it progress if we start a conversation. I received some comments about my article on living on a CalFresh budget. People made worthwhile points about where I shopped and the decisions I made and believed they could shop smarter on a regular basis. They correctly identified that I am a single individual and that I don’t have the patience to dedicate energy to shopping smart. All of these comments point to the fact that we never truly know who might need help with food because anyone could be battling healthcare costs, job loss or have to support an elderly parent. We all know life gets busy and someone might not have the time to shop if they are dealing with multiple jobs, family and kitchen situations or lack of access to healthy food. We hear stories like this every week.
Hunger Action Month is a time for us to empower supports to share why they are passionate about ending hunger in America and ask others to do the same. We thank everyone who took action in September whether you shared or just listened, you have helped move people in every category to consider the issue of hunger in America.
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