Feeding America Network of Food Banks promote September as Hunger Action Month

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada joins Feeding America, the nationwide network of Food Banks in the month long awareness campaign for September, Hunger Action Month. Hunger Action Month is designed to inspire people to take action and raise awareness of the fact that 48 million Americans, including 15 million children are food insecure, according to the USDA.

The 2016 Hunger Action Month campaign asks people to consider how it must feel to live with an empty stomach, which puts a healthy life and a promising future at risk. The feeling of running on empty is a reality for one in every seven people living in northern Nevada and one in every four children is unsure where their next meal will come from. While it is difficult to face the day without enough to eat, the solutions to solving hunger are within reach. Hunger Action Month offers ways for supporters to get involved and help to solve hunger in their community.

“It is so important that the people we serve have access to the healthy food they need to reach their full potential,” said Cherie Jamason, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada in a press release. “Our children are especially at risk. They cannot grow, learn and thrive on an empty stomach.”

According to the Feeding America hunger study, Hunger in America 2014, nearly half of the households served by the Feeding America network include someone who is either in fair or poor health.

“I’ve spent many days on the road this past year, visiting food banks, food pantries, and meal programs and meeting people who are facing hunger,” said Diana Aviv, CEO of Feeding America in a press release. “I’ve seen firsthand the anguish that food insecurity and hunger can cause. It is always heartbreaking to meet a mother or father who fears that they will not be able to feed their children. They know that their children cannot reach their full potential if they don’t have enough to eat.”

Thursday, September 8, is officially Hunger Action Day across the nation. Supporters are encouraged to wear orange and join in on a national social media effort. The Food Bank encourages participants to write down what they CAN’T do on an empty stomach on a paper plate and take a photo. Flip the plate over and write what you CAN do to help solve hunger. Participants can download a virtual plate by visiting fbnn.org and clicking here. Post the photos and tag @Feedingamerica and @FoodbankNN and use hash tags #hungeractionmonth and #IFightHunger.

The following are more ways that people can participate in Hunger Action Month 2016:

Hunger Action Day: Thursday, September 8 is also the day for a free open house, insider’s tour, and BBQ event from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. Celebrate Hunger Action Day with a behind the scenes tour, open house event, and BBQ from Famous Dave’s. There is also a complimentary shuttle sponsored by Amador Stage Lines from Legends Outlet Mall for the first 34 people who sign up. RSVP is required in advance for this event and can be submitted at fbnn.org.

Volunteer Challenge: There is a BIG volunteer goal for September and that is to fill the 1,500 slots that are on the schedule for the month. There is a great deal of donations to sort and pack to be delivered to families and that takes a significant amount of volunteers. Volunteers can sign up online at fbnn.org or contact Angie Media at amedina@fbnn.org or 775-331-3663, ext. 157.

Run on Tuna: It’s the 6th Annual Run On Tuna, organized by Tuna Queen De De Rosene and her appointed Tuna Princess, Michelle Sturge from Chase International. The drive is September 1-30 and their goal this year is to raise and donate 10,000 cans of tuna. Tuna and cash donations can be dropped at Chase International, 985 Damonte Parkway #110, Reno, NV 89521 or De De or Michelle will pick up donations. Schedule a pick-up by contacting De De at 775.225.0814 or despacede@aol.com or Michelle Sturge at 775.720.2127 or msturge@chaseinternational.com.

Orange Your Office: There will be a colorful Instagram campaign where participants simply decorate their office, cubical, or business orange to win an office lunch party for twenty people from Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop. Photos can be shared on individual or business Instagram profiles but entrants must tag @FoodBankNN and must use all three hashtags: #hungeractionmonth, #orangeyouroffice, #ifighthunger. The winner will be chosen by the most Instagram likes on the picture during the month of September.

Social Media: Community members are encouraged to raise their voice on behalf of their hungry neighbors by participating in the running on empty plate campaign and Go Orange campaign. Participants simply share a photo wearing orange or with a plate stating what they can’t do on an empty stomach and what they can do to fight hunger. Tag @FoodBankNN and use #hungeractionmonth, #IFightHunger. Participants can download a virtual plate at fbnn.org.

Bank of America Give a Meal Campaign is back and kicks off September 1. This campaign allows donors to amplify their donations through a 2 to 1 match. Individuals can donate to the campaign online by visiting feedingamerica.org/bankofamerica to help support the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. For every $1 donated through Give A Meal, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation will give $2 more, up to $1.5 million across the nation - giving donors the opportunity to triple their impact.

The Great American Milk Drive: Smith’s Food and Drug is partnering with Feeding America, milk companies and dairy farmers to get much needed milk to families struggling with hunger. Through September 17, customers at Smith’s can donate in $1, $3, & $5 increments that will be turned into milk vouchers that will be distributed by the food Bank. Participants can also donate milk online at bringhopetothetable.com.

The Cheesecake Factory is running a campaign starting September 1 through the end of the year with Feeding America. The Cheesecake Factory will donate $0.25 per slice of their Pumpkin and Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecakes to Feeding America to fight hunger nationally and locally.

“The Changemaker Ripple Effect” book launch: A good friend and supporter of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Sarah Boxx, wrote a book called The Changemaker Ripple Effect and she is donating the proceeds to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. The book is all about how one person can transform the lives of thousands when driven by passion, purpose and boldness. The book is now available on Amazon by clicking here. She has a goal of donating $100,000 to the Food Bank and there is an anonymous donor who is the holder of the Gap Fund at the Parasol Foundation who has already committed to matching the donations dollar for dollar up to $10,000!

A Place at the Table Showing: The Food Bank of Northern Nevada is joining their partner agencies Carson Valley Food Closet and Backpack Buddies in Douglas County for a free showing of the documentary, A Place at The Table. The movie will be showing on Saturday, September 17 at 2:30 p.m. at the Douglas County Public Library located at 1625 Library Lane in Minden, NV, 89423. There will be a short discussion about hunger in the area after the film.

Details and additional Hunger Action Month activities can be found at fbnn.org.