September to be designated 'Hunger Action Month'

Activists and legislators are prepared to begin September with a campaign to bring awareness to food insecurity.

State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Hill District, will introduce a resolution in the House to recognize September as “Hunger Action Month.”

“The current pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity issues across our state and, according to Feeding America, more than 1.4 million Pennsylvanians are experiencing severe hunger and nearly 400,000 of those are children,” said Wheatley. “My goal with introducing this resolution is to shed light on the persistent problem of domestic hunger in our state and across the nation.”

Hunger Action Month is the Feeding America network’s nationwide awareness campaign, now in its 13th year. The organization estimates that an additional 17 million people could be food insecure in 2020 as a result of the covid-19 pandemic — totalling more than 54 million people in the U.S; and more than 2.04 million just in Pennsylvania.

“Covid-19 has led to a significant increase in food insecurity across Pennsylvania, and our food banks continue to work diligently to ensure that no one in Pennsylvania is denied access to food,” said Jane Clements-Smith, executive director of Feeding Pennsylvania, in a news release. “We know that, while unemployment numbers skyrocket, the need for essentials, including food, will only increase. We cannot fight hunger without the help of everyone in our community — so as part of Hunger Action Month, we invite individuals across Pennsylvania to join us in our campaign to raise awareness and funds for our neighbors in need.”

Feeding Pennsylvania said will host a series of virtual events “to discuss and create awareness for hunger issues and initiatives across the state.” The campaign is meant to encourage people to post on social media, donate and volunteer to local food pantries.

Wheatley added that, while the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program both provide food assistance in the state, many people cannot meet the programs’ qualifications.

“Every one of us can do something to help whether it’s volunteering at your local food bank, donating to food pantries or holding a food drive or raising money to help organizations providing food to those who desperately need our help,” he said.

There will be an event at the Capitol on Wednesday at 1 p.m. to kick off the month, said Tara Mead, a multimedia specialist for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.