A year away from the shutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, one in four people on the Treasure Coast continue to face impossible choices between food and other critical needs.
This September, Treasure Coast Food Bank joins Feeding America and the national network of food banks to encourage everyone to take part in Hunger Action Month.
“Every day we meet people who face impossible choices between buying food and paying a utility bill, making a rent payment, or picking up a prescription. Every week, there are 250,000 people needing help with food, more than twice the number we saw before COVID,” said Judith Cruz, President and CEO of Treasure Coast Food Bank. “We’re asking everyone to join us during Hunger Action Month to take action to end hunger.”
Treasure Coast Food Bank has planned numerous opportunities for people to donate, advocate, or raise awareness. New this year is Out Run Hunger, a family-friendly 5K event taking place on Saturday, Sept. 18 at Causeway Cove Marina in Fort Pierce. Other highlights include Out Laugh Hunger, a comedy show slated for Sept. 10 at Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, The Fall Flavors Food & Beer Pairing on Sept. 22 at Sailfish Brewery, and Hops Against Hunger, a month-long food drive taking place at craft breweries throughout the Treasure Coast. Register for any of the events at stophunger.org/ham.
Local governments are proclaiming September as Hunger Action Month, and buildings, businesses and landmarks across the Treasure Coast will glow with orange to shine a light on hunger.
There’s a downloadable calendar of activities for everyone to do to raise awareness or get involved. There’s also a calendar created especially for children. September 17th is Go Orange Day. Everyone in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee counties can show support by wearing orange, using a Hunger Action Month Facebook frame and tagging #hungeractionmonth online. Learn more and download a copy of the calendar at stophunger.org/ham.
ABOUT TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK
Treasure Coast Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization on Florida’s Treasure Coast, providing the community each year with millions of meals valued at more than $50 million through robust programs and in partnership with 400 charitable organizations in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee counties. In addition to emergency food distribution, Treasure Coast Food Bank operates a full roster of direct service programs that not only solve the immediate problem of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long-term food security, better health outcomes, and self-sufficiency. Treasure Coast Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. For more information on Treasure Coast Food Bank, call 772.489.3034, log on to stophunger.org, visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/tcfoodbank, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/tcfoodbank.
