Hunger Action Month
WESTMORELAND COUNTY FOOD BANK AND FEEDING AMERICA NETWORK RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE OF HUNGER THROUGHOUT HUNGER ACTION MONTH
Hunger-Relief Organizations Encourage the Public to Join Spoontember this September and Support the 49 Million People Who Struggle with Hunger in America
The Westmoreland County Food Bank, a member of the Feeding America® nationwide network of food banks, will observe Hunger Action MonthTM – a nationwide initiative designed to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger and join the movement to help end hunger. Hunger advocates from Westmoreland County and across the country are working together this September to shine a light on the issue of hunger and the 1 in 6 people who face hunger in America – including over 45,000 here in Westmoreland County.
“One in 6 people, including over 13,000 children in Westmoreland County struggle with hunger, and the Westmoreland County Food Bank is eager to rally around Hunger Action Month as we continue our fight to solve this issue,” said Kris Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of the Westmoreland County Food Bank. “Hunger is an issue that affects everyone – 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 towards supporting those in need.”
The Feeding America network of food banks also is participating in the new SpoontemberTM online initiative. To get involved, supporters can share a ‘spoon selfie’ or video of themselves balancing a spoon on their nose – a utensil that is most often used to prepare and provide food for others – 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. The Westmoreland County Food Bank, through the generosity of sponsorship of Hunger Action Month, will be offering a prize to those who participate in the ‘spoon selfies’ or videos uploaded using #Spoontember in their posts. Each person participating will be placed in a drawing and at the end of the month they will announce who the winner is. Please visit westmorelandfoodbank.org or see their Facebook page for more details.
In addition, the Food Bank will commemorate Hunger Action Day®, which will be held Thursday, September 3. Hunger Action Day is an opportunity for the country to learn more about how hunger affects their community. The Westmoreland County Food Bank will commemorate Hunger Action Day 2015 by hosting the annual partnership luncheon and awards ceremony at their warehouse in Delmont. Each year, they gather their partners who engage in the fight against hunger to thank them for their efforts and to award commemorative green plates to an outstanding agency, donor, and partner of the year.
“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.”
Individuals can also help show their support for hunger relief and Spoontember by joining the Hunger Action Month Thunderclap on Hunger Action Day, Thursday September 3, at 12pm EST. By visiting the Hunger Action Month page, Thunderclap advocates can synchronize a Thunderclap Facebook and Twitter message to be shared in tandem with thousands of others to raise awareness about domestic hunger.
The Westmoreland County Food Bank is one of 200 member Feeding America food banks, which serves every county in the United States and provides over 3 billion meals each year to Americans in need.
To learn more about Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month and Spoontember, please visit www.hungeractionmonth.org. To learn more about the Westmoreland County Food Bank, please visit www.westmorelandfoodbank.org.
About Westmoreland County Food Bank
The Westmoreland County Food Bank serves nearly 45,000 area residents each year including 13,500 children and 4,950 seniors. WCFB currently has 66 member agencies in their network of emergency feeding sites. Of those, 44 are food pantries in which low income consumers are able to access emergency food assistance throughout the month. Last year (2014), the Food Bank distributed over 8.6 million pounds of food.
50% of WCFB’s food comes from the federal and state governments and the remaining 50% from local donations, food drives, and Feeding America. Administrative and fundraising costs account for 4% of the Food Bank’s operating budget.
About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Contact:
Jennifer Miller
Director of Development
724.468.8660 extension 15
jennifer@westmorelandfoodbank.org
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Hunger Action Month
WESTMORELAND COUNTY FOOD BANK AND FEEDING AMERICA NETWORK RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE OF HUNGER THROUGHOUT HUNGER ACTION MONTH
Hunger-Relief Organizations Encourage the Public to Join Spoontember this September and Support the 49 Million People Who Struggle with Hunger in America
The Westmoreland County Food Bank, a member of the Feeding America® nationwide network of food banks, will observe Hunger Action MonthTM – a nationwide initiative designed to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger and join the movement to help end hunger. Hunger advocates from Westmoreland County and across the country are working together this September to shine a light on the issue of hunger and the 1 in 6 people who face hunger in America – including over 45,000 here in Westmoreland County.
“One in 6 people, including over 13,000 children in Westmoreland County struggle with hunger, and the Westmoreland County Food Bank is eager to rally around Hunger Action Month as we continue our fight to solve this issue,” said Kris Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of the Westmoreland County Food Bank. “Hunger is an issue that affects everyone – 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 towards supporting those in need.”
The Feeding America network of food banks also is participating in the new SpoontemberTM online initiative. To get involved, supporters can share a ‘spoon selfie’ or video of themselves balancing a spoon on their nose – a utensil that is most often used to prepare and provide food for others – 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. The Westmoreland County Food Bank, through the generosity of sponsorship of Hunger Action Month, will be offering a prize to those who participate in the ‘spoon selfies’ or videos uploaded using #Spoontember in their posts. Each person participating will be placed in a drawing and at the end of the month they will announce who the winner is. Please visit westmorelandfoodbank.org or see their Facebook page for more details.
In addition, the Food Bank will commemorate Hunger Action Day®, which will be held Thursday, September 3. Hunger Action Day is an opportunity for the country to learn more about how hunger affects their community. The Westmoreland County Food Bank will commemorate Hunger Action Day 2015 by hosting the annual partnership luncheon and awards ceremony at their warehouse in Delmont. Each year, they gather their partners who engage in the fight against hunger to thank them for their efforts and to award commemorative green plates to an outstanding agency, donor, and partner of the year.
“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.”
Individuals can also help show their support for hunger relief and Spoontember by joining the Hunger Action Month Thunderclap on Hunger Action Day, Thursday September 3, at 12pm EST. By visiting the Hunger Action Month page, Thunderclap advocates can synchronize a Thunderclap Facebook and Twitter message to be shared in tandem with thousands of others to raise awareness about domestic hunger.
The Westmoreland County Food Bank is one of 200 member Feeding America food banks, which serves every county in the United States and provides over 3 billion meals each year to Americans in need.
To learn more about Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month and Spoontember, please visit www.hungeractionmonth.org. To learn more about the Westmoreland County Food Bank, please visit www.westmorelandfoodbank.org.
About Westmoreland County Food Bank
The Westmoreland County Food Bank serves nearly 45,000 area residents each year including 13,500 children and 4,950 seniors. WCFB currently has 66 member agencies in their network of emergency feeding sites. Of those, 44 are food pantries in which low income consumers are able to access emergency food assistance throughout the month. Last year (2014), the Food Bank distributed over 8.6 million pounds of food.
50% of WCFB’s food comes from the federal and state governments and the remaining 50% from local donations, food drives, and Feeding America. Administrative and fundraising costs account for 4% of the Food Bank’s operating budget.
About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Contact:
Jennifer Miller
Director of Development
724.468.8660 extension 15
jennifer@westmorelandfoodbank.org
