County urges support for Hunger Action Month

Photo by Nic Smit. Free Use. Unsplash.

By Cecilia Nasmith

September is Hunger Action Month, and Northumberland County is inviting residents to help fight food insecurity with small but meaningful actions to support local food programs.

Hunger Action Month is a national awareness campaign that highlights factors that contribute to food insecurity, while advocating for a future free from hunger and poverty. During September, organizations across Canada will work to raise awareness and support the local programs that help thousands of individuals and families access nutritious food.

At the national level, Food Banks Canada supports food banks and raises food-insecurity issues. In Ontario, this work is led by Feed Ontario. And in Northumberland, the Food 4 All Warehouse works with 12 community food banks to provide vital food-support services while championing provincial and national efforts to address food insecurity.

Northumberland Community and Social Services Client Services Manager Jennifer Glover said that last year more than 6,300 individuals accessed these services, and children and youth accounted for 29% of those served. Food 4 All also supported more than 41 student-nutrition programs, providing an average of 98,000 meals and snacks each month to more than 5,600 students during the school year.

“Hunger Action Month is a chance to raise awareness, strengthen community connections and remind residents that even small actions can make a meaningful difference,” Glover said in the announcement.

The county encourages everyone to learn more about the issue by reading the Feed Change Report on the county's website, which contains information about local food-support systems (including distribution and usage data).

Those interested can also download the 30 Ways in 30 Days challenge calendar from the county website to accept the challenge to complete one action each day in support of local food security.

You can also get information about food-assistance programs and services available throughout the county by visiting and promoting FoodHelpNorthumberland.cioc.ca

And, of course, donations of needed items to local food bank will help meet growing community needs and support neighbours experiencing food insecurity.

For more information, visit Northumberland.ca/HungerActionMonth