Elections Highlight Hunger
Hunger awareness events were front and center during both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in late August and early September, and next month’s newsletter will focus on how critical this year’s election is for hunger issues.
At the Democratic National Convention in Denver, celebrities and politicians worked together to “Send Hunger Packing” at the Food Bank of the Rockies. In the “Repack Event,” film star Ben Affleck led a group of local celebrities against a team that included U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, who co-chairs the Senate Hunger caucus, and U.S. Representative George McGovern to see who could pack the most boxes of food in five minutes. Ben Affleck and his team were the winners—17 boxes to 15! Click here to see photos of Ben working at the Food Bank of the Rockies.
To learn more about hunger issues in this year’s elections and to find out how you can get involved, visit www.voteagainsthunger.org.
We’ve Changed Our Name to Feeding America™
We’re proud to announce that we’ve officially changed our name from America’s Second Harvest to Feeding America.
Why Feeding America? For nearly thirty years, America’s Second Harvest has successfully worked to fight hunger across the country, distributing more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. However, we feel that our efforts will be even more successful with a name that better describes what we do—inspire and mobilize the American public to help provide nourishment, support, and hope for people in need.
Exciting new things are happening at Feeding America!
- As we kick off our new identity, watch for Feeding America on Sunday Night Football and CMT television and radio.
- Feeding America is celebrating Hunger Action Month throughout September. Call your local food bank to find out what’s going on in your community or visit the Hunger Action Center.
- Check out our Hunger Action Month theme song, a special version of Phil Vassar’s “Prayer of a Common Man,” at Rhapsody.com.
As Feeding America, we are mobilizing people who are deeply passionate about solving the problem of hunger in our country, and we will continue to support local charitable organizations in operating food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, and after-school programs nationwide. Truly, the name Feeding America will help us realize our vision of a hunger-free America.
September is Hunger Action Month!
September is Hunger Action Month—and all across America we are Raising Our Voices Against Hunger!
Feeding America and our 205 member food banks are hosting community events nationwide to focus greater attention on the hunger crisis in America and promote ways for people to get involved. Click here to find out what’s going on in your community. There are golf tournaments and concerts, raffles and food drives, brown bag lunch days and celebrity dinners—all across the country, people like you are recognizing Hunger Action Month through local events both large and small.
“There is something everyone can do to be a part of Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month,” says Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America.
As Hunger Action Month’s official media partner, CMT One Country is helping raise awareness of hunger in America on CMT television and radio. And our official spokesperson, country recording star Phil Vassar, has re-recorded a special version of his song, “Prayer of a Common Man,” with the renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers.
“I have seen the devastating effects that hunger can have on a person and on a family,” said Vassar. “By partnering with Feeding America, it’s my hope that I can help draw more people to the cause and shed more light on hunger relief opportunities.”
“Prayer of a Common Man” can be downloaded exclusively at www.rhapsody.com and will be available from September 9 until December 31, 2008. For just $.99, you can purchase the song—and Feeding America will receive a portion of the proceeds.
You can also visit the Hunger Action Center, where you will find many ways to help during Hunger Action Month!
September’s Focus: The Working Poor
All across America, there are hard-working individuals and families who are classified as the “working poor.” These are people who have regular employment, but are unable to earn enough money to meet their monthly needs. In fact, in 2006, 16.8 million people lived in working-poor families in America. These families must frequently choose between paying for food and paying for other critical needs, such as medicine and medical care.
Meet Oliver and Juliette. Oliver works as a door-to-door salesman, while Juliette stays at home to care for their three children: Caleb, Jamal, and Madison. Since their move from Iowa to northern Illinois, they have had difficulty making their mortgage payments. Each week, Juliette and Oliver take $75 out of Oliver’s paycheck for food, and use the remainder to attempt to “cope with the bills.”
Juliette carries the “tremendous burden” of knowing that her family does not have enough to meet their expenses, and worries about providing enough food for her family. Having grown up in a family that received food stamps, she strives to ensure that her children do not have to experience the same hunger that she did.
Oliver feels the pressure at work, finding that “it’s hard to get ahead when you’re just trying to get by.”
“I’m hungry all the time,” says Caleb, age five. “I get mad if people don’t feed me.”
After moving, Oliver and Juliette started to receive food assistance from People’s Resource Center, an agency of the Northern Illinois Food Bank and a member of the Feeding America Network. Juliette called various churches in her community until she learned about the People’s Resource Center. “I was really surprised how easy it was to find help,” she says. The center has provided her family with fresh vegetables, frozen meat, bread, canned foods, instant lunches, and a variety of other food products. Juliette describes the organization as a “big help.” She feels especially grateful for the cereal and juice that provide her children with food for the most important meal of the day.
Juliette was “surprised” and “shocked” that “so many families are out there in need of food—and that it is a common problem.” She urges individuals and families experiencing hunger to seek out sources of food and support. And she reminds everyone that “something must be done” to end hunger.
Feeding America agrees—and will continue to work until it has achieved its vision of a hunger-free America.
“Thank you,” said Juliette. “You are a life saver to me, my husband, and my children.”
You can help others become more aware of the plight of working poor people in our country. Invite your friends to read Oliver and Juliette’s story. Click here to spread the word.