Government Leaders, Celebrities, Volunteers and Corporations Join Together to Support the Nation’s Food Bank Network in the Fight to End Hunger
Support for hunger relief will intensify today for the observation of Feeding America’s Hunger Action Day®. Iconic buildings are expected to turn orange®, corporations will lead their employees in company-wide volunteer efforts, and celebrities will engage their audiences on social media to raise awareness.
Dozens of events also will take place across the county. In Washington D.C., members of the House Committee of Agriculture will station a Hunger Action Day photo opportunity outside their hearing room this morning for members of Congress to take photos in support of Feeding America’s Hunger Action MonthTM “Empty Plate” campaign. The campaign emphasizes how without food no one can reach their full potential, and asks supporters to post photos that feature paper plates with messages of what they couldn’t do on an empty stomach.
The effort is a continuation of “Hunger in America” a congressional exhibition event hosted on the eve of Hunger Action Day by Feeding America and anti-hunger partners to engage hunger-relief advocates in Washington D.C. Yesterday’s event featured photos and facts about hunger from all 50 states, and took place in the foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building. The exhibition was in conjunction with House Hunger Caucus Co-Chairs, Representative Jim McGovern and Representative Lynn Jenkins, and was also attended by Rep. Bobby Scott from Virginia, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici from Oregon, Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham from New Mexico, Rep. Rubén Hinojosa from Texas, Rep. Tom Reed from New York, and Rep. Mark DeSaulnier from California.
Feeding America has also enlisted the support of its Entertainment Council and celebrity supporters who are taking action on social media and at food banks and meal programs in cities across the country. Rocco DiSpirito, an award-winning chef, Healthy Lifestyle Crusader and #1 New York Times bestselling author, helped to kick off the “Hunger in America” exhibition and also volunteered by handing out groceries at Bread for the City, a pantry within the Feeding America network.
“Hunger is an issue that we can and need to agree on,” said Rocco DiSpirito. “After spending a day with Feeding America in Washington D.C., I was proud to witness congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle coming together to acknowledge that this is an issue we must fight to end. And that together, we -can ensure that all Americans have access to healthy meals.”
More than 42 million Americans are food insecure and may not know where they’ll find their next meal. In honor of the children and families facing hunger in the U.S., Feeding America is asking the country to take action, and issuing a reminder that everyone has a role to play in ending hunger.
There are three key ways to support Feeding America’s hunger-relief efforts for Hunger Action Day on Sept. 8:
- Share what you 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 you couldn’t achieve. Post your photo to social media with #HungerActionMonth and @FeedingAmerica to join the conversation.
- Share the Empty Plates video from Feeding America’s Facebook Page to illuminate what dinner might look like for families who don’t have enough food to make a balanced meal. Share to your Facebook account with #HungerActionMonth.
- Volunteer at your local food bank during the month of September and post a photo of your experience to social media with #HungerActionMonth. Find your local food bank by entering your zip code.
Hunger Action Day is a time for hunger-relief advocates to focus efforts on one day for greater impact. It is part of Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month, which is a nationwide awareness campaign designed to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger. This marks the ninth year Feeding America has organized this annual call to action.
To learn more about Feeding America and other ways you can get involved for Hunger Action Month 2016 in your community, please visit HungerActionMonth.org.
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About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.3 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
