This year, Treasure Coast Food Bank has provided meals to more people than ever before. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Treasure Coast Food Bank has seen the need for emergency food increase by 200 percent, a need expected to linger many months into the future.
It makes Hunger Action Month especially important in 2020. In September, Treasure Coast Food Bank will join the Feeding American nationwide network of food banks for Hunger Action Month – a month-long effort to build awareness and mobilize everyone to take action against hunger.
Treasure Coast Food Bank is encouraging everyone to participate – in safe, socially distanced ways – such as the Light Up Orange for Hunger campaign to get people talking about hunger. Treasure Coast Food Bank is asking businesses, governments and communities to light the Treasure Coast with an orange glow to build awareness of hunger.
“The need for food on the Treasure Coast is unprecedented, with thousands of people seeking help for the first time in their lives,” said Judith Cruz, President and CEO of Treasure Coast Food Bank. “We hope to make this year’s Light Up Orange awareness campaign bigger than ever so orange light everywhere gets people talking about the issue.”
Any building, monument, statue, structure, or sign that is illuminated can Light Up Orange.
In past years, in Downtown Stuart orange light led the way across the Roosevelt Bridge, and orange lights reflected on the bronze Stuart sailfish. The clock tower marking the entrance to Tradition in St. Lucie County has glowed orange, and the water in the fountain at Tropicana was awash in orange light. Local theatres got involved as both the Lyric and the Sunrise theatres featured orange lights. And in Indian River County, Royal Palm Pointe and Leisure Square were illuminated with orange light.
Treasure Coast Food Bank will supply the orange light bulbs or orange-tinted light covers for anyone wanting to participate in Light Up Orange. It’s just one of many ways the community can help participate in Hunger Action Month and help end hunger on the Treasure Coast one helping at a time.
For more information, visit stophunger.org/ham/ or contact Rebecca Rodriguez at rrodriguez@tcfoodbank.org.