Kentucky Ag News
Kentucky Association of Food Banks and Feeding America Network raise awareness during Hunger Action Month
Special to Kentucky Agricultural News
BEREA, Ky. – The members of the Kentucky Association of Food Banks, part of the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks, are observing Hunger Action Month – a nationwide initiative designed to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger and join the movement to help end hunger. Advocates in Kentucky and across the country are working together in September to shine a light on the issue of hunger and the 1 in 6 people who face hunger in America – including 722,330 here in Kentucky.
“One in 6 people, including 221,780 children in Kentucky, struggle with hunger, and the Kentucky Association of Food Banks is eager to rally around Hunger Action Month as we continue our fight to solve this issue,” said Tamara Sandberg, executive director of the KAFB. “Hunger is an issue that affects so many – our child’s classmate, an office coworker or neighbor down the street. September is an opportunity for all hunger-relief advocates to take simple steps toward supporting those in need.”
The KADF will commemorated Hunger Action Day on Sept. 3 through a Day of Service event hosted at Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland in Elizabethtown.
The Feeding America network of food banks is also participating in the new Spoontember online initiative. To get involved, supporters can share a “spoon selfie” or video of themselves balancing a spoon on their nose and challenge friends and family to join them to generate awareness of the 49 million Americans who may not know where they’ll find their next meal.
“Domestic hunger affects every community in our nation, preventing millions of families, seniors and children from thriving,” said Matt Knott, president of Feeding America. “This September, we all are given a chance to come together and make a difference for those facing hunger."
Other opportunities for Kentuckians to get involved in Hunger Action Month include:
- Voyageur Canoe World Championship on Sunday, Sept. 13 at Waterfront Park in Louisville.
- Hunger Walk on Sunday, Sept. 27 from 12-4:30 p.m. EDT at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville.
- Crop Walk on Sunday, Sept. 27 beginning at 3 p.m. EDT at Second Presbyterian Church in downtown Lexington.
The Kentucky Association for Adult and Continuing Education will host a statewide food drive the week of Sept. 21-26 in conjunction with National Adult and Family Literacy Week. “KAACE truly appreciates the hard work KAFB does to bring hunger awareness into the public eye,” said Amy Matthews, assistant director of Mercer County Adult Education. “KAACE is honored to team up with KAFB as we know that under-education leads to difficulties for families to secure the nutritious foods they need."
The members of the Kentucky Association of Food Banks are part of the 200-member Feeding America food bank network, which serves every county in the United States and provides over 3 billion meals each year to Americans in need.
