September is Hunger Action Month, and the Cass-Clay Hunger Coalition is promoting its “30 Ways in 30 Days” campaign to address the local hunger problem. More information can be found in the article in Wednesday’s Fargo Forum.
One way you can help is to donate any extra garden produce you may have. The Great Plains Food Bank is collecting produce at 1720 3rd Ave North, Fargo to distribute to the various community food pantries.
According to the article, one in 11 people in Cass and Clay counties seeks help from the charitable food network, and 40 percent of those are children, said Marcia Paulson, the food bank’s marketing and development director.
“Food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelter feeding programs are reporting that more people are served more often, and that they’re serving people who’ve never needed their services before,” she said.
The 10 community food shelves saw nearly 79,000 visitors in 2009, up 13 percent from 2008, Paulson said, adding the increased demand persisted through the first half of this year.
The Great Plains Food Bank, which serves 257 agencies across North Dakota and in Clay County, set a goal this year to collect 500,000 pounds of perishable food, officials said.
Ways to help during Hunger Action Month
Following are ways the public can help fight hunger during September, according to the Cass-Clay Hunger Coalition:
· Participate in the Hunger Free North Dakota Garden Initiative by donating produce.
· Volunteer on the National Day of Service on Saturday; serve a meal at a local soup kitchen.
· Attend the YWCA Chocolate Fantasy event on Sept. 16 and St. Vincent DePaul’s Friends of the Poor Walk on Sept. 25.
· Donate to the Backpack Program through the Great Plains Food Bank, which volunteers pack bags of food to send home with children over the weekends so they have food to eat during the weekend, which they may not be able to get at home.
· Conduct a food drive in your neighborhood or workplace.
More information can be found at Great Plains Food Bank.