Harvest Hope Food Bank asks South Carolina to take action to end hunger

This September Harvest Hope Food Bank, together with the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks, will mobilize across all 50 states in an effort to bring an end to hunger. Hunger Action Month is designed to inspire people to take action and raise awareness of the fact that 41 million Americans, including nearly 13 million children, are food insecure, according to the USDA.

In the 20-county area serviced by Harvest Hope, more than 300,000 people struggle with hunger and may not know where they’ll find their next meal. That number includes one in 5 kids who may not have enough to eat.

September marks the eleventh year the Feeding America network of food banks has organized this annual call to action and the sixth year Harvest Hope has participated in the Hunger Action Month movement. This year the campaign will focus on the strong connections between hunger and health.

The Hunger Action Month 2018 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.

Hunger Action Day®, the second Thursday in September, is a day where efforts across the country are focused for greater impact.

This year, on September 13th, Harvest Hope asks supporters to share what they 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 they couldn’t achieve without the nutrition we need to thrive.

These photos can be posted to social media with #HungerActionMonth, @HarvestHopeFB and @FeedingAmerica to join the conversation.

A press conference will be held at the South Carolina Statehouse on September 13, 2018 which will serve as the unofficial launch of Hunger Action Month. The proclamation signed by Governor Henry McMaster will be read and representatives from the four South Carolina food banks and Feeding the Carolinas will be available to answer questions.

To learn more about Harvest Hope Food Bank and other ways you can get involved for Hunger Action Month in South Carolina, please visitwww.harvesthope.org.

About Harvest Hope Food Bank

Harvest Hope Food Bank was founded in 1981 as the result of a shared vision of business leaders and the faith community who set out to provide for the hungry in Columbia. Harvest Hope distributed nearly 28 million pounds of food last year and feeds approximately 38,000 people a week. Their main offices are located in Columbia, but the organization also has locations in Greenville and Florence.

About Feeding America®

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate.  Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.