Today is Hunger Awareness Day

From Rick Bella: Today communities across the country will participate in Hunger Awareness Day, which recognizes the more than 35 million Americans suffering from hunger or food insecurity.
Hunger Awareness Day is an opportunity for Americans to show their united support for one of the most solvable social issues in the country—hunger relief. From advocating to raising awareness, or sponsoring and participating in an event, to volunteering, everyone can join us in fighting hunger in their communities.

This year’s campaign includes a variety of exciting events happening around the country and many opportunities for you to get involved. "Goin' Home For Hunger" Did you know that many of the hottest stars are supporters of America’s Second Harvest?

Designed as a campaign to link stars with their hometown food bank, “Goin’ Home for Hunger” is sending leading actors, actresses, musicians and other personalities back to where they grew up. Among the stars participating: actor and Bostonian Ben Affleck, Olympian and Nashville resident Scott Hamilton, singer and Cincinnati native Nick Lachey, and Los Angeles’ own actor Scott Wolf. Affleck will volunteer at the Greater Boston Food Bank. Hamilton will stop by the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee to volunteer and Lachey will volunteer at Cincinnati's FreeStore FoodBank and host a Taste of the NFL event in support of the food bank Wolf will be at the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank to help bring greater awareness to the issue of hunger in southern California.

Rick: These wonderful events are taking place across the country. But, I would be remiss not to mention all of the fresh produce donors who contact us each day with donations of fresh produce. This year, again will be another record breaking year with over 110 million pounds of fresh produce being supplied through the national program at America's Second Harvest. Potatoes topped the list at 33% of our total. They are always in demand and we offer a variety of items from various shipping points across the U.S. The program is supported by about $10M to assist with packaging and transportation costs to get produce to member food banks. About 40% of the total is provided by the national office with the balance coming from the local food bank budgets or about $6M. The program continues to grow and more and more industry produce companies are assisting. Many thanks to all of you who have provided us with fresh produce. If you'd like to get involved, contact Rick Bella at rbella@secondharvest.org or call 800-771-2303 x6507 for more information. Visit http://www.secondharvest.org for more details. Thank you all for your continued support.