HOW WILL YOU CHOOSE TO END HUNGER? – SEPTEMBER 2

Author: Claire Hurd

For many, a daily meal is a simple choice of what to eat. But for nearly 1 in 8 people in our community, a daily meal poses a very different type of choice. It is often an impossible choice between food and other crucial needs, such as electricity, childcare or medicine. There is no luxury of what to eat. The choice is IF they eat. 

Food should not be an impossible choice. 

This September marks the kick-off for Hunger Action Month. Hunger Action Month is the Feeding America network’s annual nationwide campaign designed to inspire people to take action and raise awareness of hunger on both a local and national level. Second Harvest is a dedicated hunger relief partner of the Feeding America network, and we are asking you to take action during Hunger Action Month. 

Hunger Action Month is a time to come together to take action to end hunger. You can choose to donate, advocate, volunteer, or raise awareness.  

How will you choose to end hunger?  

LEARN 

Learn about hunger in your community Hunger & Poverty in the United States | Map the Meal Gap (feedingamerica.org)  

COMMIT 

Donate donate – 2nd Harvest (2-harvest.org)  

Fundraise host a fundraiser – 2nd Harvest (2-harvest.org)  

Sign the Pledge Campaign to End Hunger | Feeding America  

Volunteer volunteer – 2nd Harvest (2-harvest.org)  

SPEAK UP 

Tell Congress: End Military Hunger Tell Congress: No U.S. service member should struggle to put food on the table! – Feeding America  

Fill the Plate: Tell Congress Why Hunger Matters Feeding America  

Nobody should be forced to choose between food and medicine, or food and electricity, or food and any other basic need. You have a choice. Choose to end hunger. 

We asked our friends at Gesa Credit Union,​ our Hunger Action Month sponsors, how they plan to take action this September and Gesa’s Community Relations Specialist, Rafael Saucedo said:

“To raise awareness about food insecurity and mobilize the public to take action, we’re inviting people to donate food, donate time, and donate money during Hunger Action Month. We will be doing this by: 

• Collecting non-perishable food items at each of our branch locations all month long. 
• Organizing team member volunteer days with Food Lifeline in Seattle and Second Harvest in Spokane and Pasco. At Gesa, we want to make sure that hands follow the dollars by being active participants in our communities. We encourage everyone to take some time to volunteer this month at Food Lifeline, Second Harvest, or a food pantry near you. 
• Investing $50,000 that our partner organizations – Food Lifeline and Second Harvest – will leverage as matching challenges in order to generate awareness and raise additional funds. One dollar provides food for five meals, which means that even small contributions can make a difference.” 

Gesa is truly walking the walk with these outstanding steps they’re taking towards fighting local hunger. We’re so thankful to have this dedicated community partner join us in raising hunger awareness this month.  

If you’re interested in using Gesa’s gift match this month, click here.  

And remember to tag us on social media so we can share and interact with your Hunger Action Month activities!