Hunger Action Month is the Feeding America® network’s nationwide awareness driver, designed to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger and food insecurity.  This annual month-long campaign brings attention to the reality of food insecurity in the United States and promotes ways for individuals and organizations across the Country to get involved in the movement to help end hunger.

This combined effort of Feeding America, the nationwide network of food banks, including the Westmoreland County Food Bank, helps to make a difference in the lives of millions of people.  The campaign is designed to raise awareness and inspire the community to get involved, not just in September but also all year long.

You can get involved locally with the Westmoreland County Food Bank (WCFB), in many different ways.   You can host a food drive where you work, ask your employer to match a contribution that you would like to make to the Food Bank. You or Your company can sponsor Hunger Action Month events throughout the month.  Your company can go orange for Hunger Action Month; show your support by decorating your windows or the inside of your building with orange colors. You could light your façade orange; put an orange light in your home’s lamppost.  You can educate yourself about hunger in your community.  The Food Bank is always in need of volunteers either in their Warehouse or at your local food pantry as well.

Some of the events happening this month include a fund matching event sponsored by PennLine Services in Scottdale.  “PennLine has been a generous sponsor of Hunger Action Month activities for many years,” stated Lauren Hill, WCFB Director of Development.  “We are grateful for their return and support this year.”  On September 28, “Day 2 Don8” will be held.  PennLine will match up to $5,000 from any funds donated by the community on this day.  To participate in this matching funds event, please visit www.westmorelandfoodbank.org/don8.

There will also be a display in the courthouse courtyard for the entire month of September commemorating Hunger Action Month.  On Thursday, September 12, WCFB will be hosting the annual Hunger Action Month Partnership Luncheon, this year’s luncheon theme is “The Art of Fighting Hunger.”  The event will include a display of original artworks by artist Christopher Visgitis.  A silent auction will be held for the pieces on display and half of the proceeds will be donated to the Westmoreland County Food Bank.  “We are very excited to be working with Mr. Visgitis on this project,” said WCFB CEO, Jennifer Miller. “We are very grateful to him for sharing his talent with all of us.”

This year’s Hunger Action Month theme is “We can end hunger one helping at a time.”  “We hope that this theme will inspire people to help,” stated Mrs. Miller.  “Each ‘helping’ provides food for the food insecure right here at home.”  The Food Bank will be announcing ways to take action on social media, and how you can get involved as well.

For more information about how you can help please visit the WCFB website at westmorelandfoodbank.org or call 724.468.8660.

About Westmoreland County Food Bank

The Westmoreland County Food Bank serves over 7,000 unduplicated households each month. WCFB currently has 63 member agencies in their network of emergency feeding sites.  Of those, 43 are food pantries in which low income consumers are able to access emergency food assistance throughout the month. Last year (2018), the Food Bank distributed over 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™