If these past two years have taught us anything, it’s that factors out of our control can drastically change our circumstances. For many in our community, this has meant firsthand experience with economic instability, and as a result, food insecurity. In keeping up with the unprecedented surge in demand, Pennsylvania food banks and pantries scrambled to re-allocate resources to make sure that neighbors in the community, many of whom were turning to these resources for the first time, weren’t going hungry.
The work is far from over … and far from new. Sadly, food insecurity has always been an issue that millions of people face, year after year. Hunger exists in every county in the U.S., affecting 40 million Americans including more than 12 million children and 5 million seniors. Before COVID, 1.5 million of our neighbors in PA — that’s 1 in every 8 people — are at risk of going hungry. Currently, there are 1,401,920 Pennsylvanians (including nearly 400,000 children) who are food insecure. It’s a heartbreaking statistic that, for many of us, hits closer to home this year than ever before.
September is Hunger Action Month, Feeding America‘s nationwide campaign to mobilize everyone to take action on the issue of hunger. Food insecurity is a solvable issue, especially if we all work together, and Feeding Pennsylvania and the amazing network of affiliated food banks across the country are all gearing up for a month of awareness, advocacy and action. When it comes to addressing a multi-faceted issue like hunger, we can end hunger one helping at a time.
Join PA Eats in the Fight Against Hunger
Over the last 12 months, PA Eats has partnered with Feeding PA to develop 28 videos and nearly two dozen recipes as a part of our Nourish PA series, distributed at more than 60 food pantries around the state. The Nourish PA video and recipe series takes ingredients commonly found at food pantries and creates healthy, simple and affordable meals that pantry clients can make at home. In addition to recipes, the videos help to teach basic cooking skills and “How-To” use some of the less familiar food items at the pantry.
This Hunger Action Month, we invite you to take the pledge and take a stand against hunger here in the Keystone State. Become a Friend of PA Eats today to not only celebrate our state’s rich culinary culture, but even more, to maximize the work we’re doing to provide educational content to the food insecure folks across PA! For less than the cost of one gourmet coffee each month, YOU can make a difference and help to empower and inspire our neighbors across the state struggling with food insecurity.
Here’s how you can team up with PA Eats to join the food fight:
- Become a Friend of PA Eats: Join now and get the remainder of 2021, plus all of 2022, at no added cost!
- Donate to PA Eats – for individuals and organizations/businesses
- Become a Chef Volunteer
- Submit a healthy recipe
Participate in Hunger Action Day
September 17, 2021 is Hunger Action Day, and you can participate in a social media campaign that will span the country! Post a photo of yourself wearing orange on your social channels, and tag @feedingpa and @feedingamerica, along with the hashtag #HungerActionMonth. Encourage your followers to take action through donation, advocacy, sharing on social media, or taking a photo wearing orange!
There are other ways to get involved, too! You can donate your time, as many food banks are open for volunteers (with ample safety protocols, of course) and are in dire need of people power. Especially if you have extra time on your hands these days, volunteering is a way to make a profound impact.
From home, you can read up on food insecurity across America, and share info with your network of friends, family and colleagues. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about hunger, and providing facts and sharing stories can help to mobilize others around you. The Feeding America and Feeding PA sites are great resources. If you’re a parent, you can also talk to your children about hunger, helping them to grasp the problem, encouraging them to approach the issue with empathy, and getting them involved in the fight against food insecurity! Find Feeding America’s Family Action Plan here.
This is just the beginning! We will be back throughout Hunger Action Month with more ways to get involved and we’ll feature inspiring stories from the PA Eats Board Members. Stay tuned to PA Eats and Feeding PA for more information about how you can participate in Hunger Action Month this year. Remember, every action counts!
- Feature photo: Dish Works
- Food bank warehouse photo: Westmoreland Food Bank
- Volunteers prepping food photo: Chester County Food Bank
