** OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
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In this month's newsletter:
1. 9/11 Week of Service
2. New National Hunger Data
3. Ringing the Bell at the Boise Farmer Market
4. HFA in the Media: Universal School Meals
5. Advocacy Corner: Fight for SNAP
6. Hunger Fighter Resources
** 9/11 Week of Service
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Last month, Hunger Free America hosted our first 9/11 Week of Service! We hosted 12 volunteer events around the country with more than 60 volunteers, as well as 2 educational events. We so appreciate our partners in this endeavor, including Food Bank For New York City and D.C. Central Kitchen.
The Strategic Volunteerism team connects individuals and organizations with high impact volunteer work addressing the root causes of hunger. Whether you’re a senior, student, group or individual, we have a variety of roles for you to help end hunger. Join our team of volunteers making a difference today.
Volunteer at Hunger Free America ([link removed])
** New National Hunger Data
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The number of Americans who lived in food insecure households, unable to afford an adequate supply of food, increased from 34 million in 2021 to 44 million in 2022 to 47 million in 2023, according to an annual report ([link removed]) released last month by USDA. That represents a 40 percent increase in food insecurity between 2021 and 2023, and a seven percent increase between just 2022 and 2023.
As our CEO Joel Berg said, “We must all understand that the nation is still suffering from a hunger crisis, which did not end when the worst of the pandemic ended. The massive, multi-year jump in U.S. hunger – and an even steeper spike in child hunger – in the wealthiest and most agriculturally abundant nation in the history of the world, was a stark moral and policy failure for the entire United Sates.”
Read more about HFA’s response to these alarming numbers.
Read Full HFA Statement on New Hunger Statistics ([link removed])
** Ringing the Bell at the Boise Farmers Market
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Every Saturday the Boise Farmers Market selects a nonprofit to ring their opening bell.
Last month the Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force and Hunger Free America were selected and our very own Dawn Pierce served as the honorary bell ringer! Dawn educated market goers on hunger in Idaho, ways people can help alleviate hunger, and shared information about the USDA National Hunger Hotline.
** HFA in the Media:
Universal School Meals
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Last month, Hunger Free America CEO Joel Berg joined Errol Louis on Spectrum News to discuss the importance of universal school meals.
Hunger Free America has long advocated for making school breakfasts and lunches universally free for all students, regardless of their families' income. In school districts that have already implemented universal school meals, the policy has been shown to decrease child hunger, improve students' health outcomes, and boost academic achievement.
Watch the Full Interview ([link removed])
** Advocacy Corner: Fight for SNAP
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Earlier this year, the House Agriculture Committee advanced a Farm Bill proposal that would, according to the Congressional Budget Office, take away $30 billion in SNAP funding. Hunger Free America fiercely opposes this proposal, which would take away life-saving nutrition assistance from tens of millions of food insecure children, working people, veterans, people with disabilities, and older Americans.
We urge you to contact your House Representative and US Senator and implore them to reject any Farm Bill that cuts SNAP funding!
Find Your Reps ([link removed])
** Hunger Fighter Resources
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* Share the contact information for our Benefits Access ([link removed]) team in your community. Anyone looking for help applying for SNAP or WIC, or applying for SNAP recertification can email us at
[email protected] ([link removed]) or call (646) 355-1475.
* Do you run a food pantry or other feeding program? Make sure you're in our online database ([link removed]) ! Contact our Data Director, Angelica, at
[email protected] ([link removed]) for more information.
Are you a Federal employee or retiree? Then you can contribute to Hunger Free America through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) using charity code 31291: [link removed] ([link removed])
Donate to Hunger Free America ([link removed])
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