September marks the 15th year Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief
organization with a nationwide network of 200 food banks, including the River Valley Regional
Food Bank, and 60,000 partner food pantries and meal programs, has organized the annual call
to action. This year’s campaign presents the impossible choices that millions of people in America are often forced to make between food and other basic needs.

“Many people may not give a daily meal much thought. For people facing hunger, a daily meal is
not as simple,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “Instead, it becomes
a different type of choice – an impossible decision between food or other crucial needs, such as
electricity, childcare, or medicine. Nobody should be forced to make a choice to go hungry. With
the public’s support, we can come together to help increase food access for all people, so they
no longer have to make such tough decisions.”

During the month of September, people across the River Valley can get involved by learning,
committing, and speaking up about ways to ending hunger.
• Make a monetary contribution, where $1 = 10 meals to a family in need
• Volunteer for a shift at the food bank
• Host a food drive

“We have all been HUNGRY at some point, but for many of our neighbors, hunger is an issue
that isn’t easily solved by going to your kitchen pantry and grabbing food,” River Valley Regional
Food Bank Director Tracy Engel said. “It is a daily struggle and worry of where your next meal
will come from and how you will attain it. They wake up hungry and they plan their day on just
how to survive.”

Hunger Action Month is a time for everyone across the country to collectively act against
hunger. You can choose to donate or advocate. You can choose to volunteer or raise
awareness. You can choose to help end hunger. Learn more about how you can join the fight to
end hunger by visiting https://www.rvrfoodbank.org/hunger-action-month/

That’s why the River Valley Regional Food Bank joins Feeding America® food banks nationwide this September to take part in Hunger Action Month, and inspire people to take action and bring attention to the reality of food insecurity in America. This year’s campaign comes at a critical time when the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt millions of people living paycheck to paycheck. And due to staggering unemployment rates, Feeding America estimates an additional 17 million people could be food insecure in 2020 as a result of this crisis, bringing the total up to 54 million people.

“Whether they’ve lost work from the pandemic, or are under-employed, or are seniors, or they live on a fixed income, so many people need food assistance at this time,” Food Bank Director Tracy Engel said. “We work every day to ensure we can provide nutritious food to our 163 pantry agency partners in the eight-county service area in the River Valley, so that they are able to fulfill their missions of helping those in need.”

In an effort to promote hunger awareness throughout the month of September, the River Valley Regional Food Bank has partnered with local businesses, restaurants and government entities to help raise funds and collect in-need pantry items to help stock our shelves.

The food bank also has a number of viral social media campaigns planned, as a way to promote the issues of food disparity in our area. “We need your help now more than ever,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “Hunger in this country existed long before COVID-19, but the pandemic has thrust more and more of our neighbors into food insecurity, and food banks are responding to a sustained, increased demand. With support of the community, together we can end hunger one helping at a time.”

September marks the 13th year the Feeding America network has organized this annual call to action. To learn more about the River Valley Regional Food bank and other ways you can get involved for Hunger Action Month in the River Valley, please visit rvrfoodbank.org/hungeraction-month/ or HungerActionMonth.org. You can also join the conversation by posting photos or stories to social media with #HungerActionMonth, and tag @rivervalleyregionalfoodbank on Instagram, @RVRFoodBank on Facebook and @river_food on Twitter, as well as @FeedingAmerica.