Helping Hands Food Bank Takes Hunger Action Month By Storm
Every September marks Hunger Action Month. The whole month is dedicated to raising awareness about hunger and food insecurity in our communities. Today, 1 in 7 people in Western Washington struggle to fill their plates, their cupboards, and their stomachs. Several of our partner agencies held community-wide events during the month of September to fight hunger and raise awareness in the towns, cities, and counties where they live and work.
Helping Hands Food Bank in Sedro Woolley was one of our member agencies that planned, organized, and took part in Hunger Action Month. Executive Director, Becky Schlaht, shared the amazing things their community accomplished in just one month of action.
Here are just some of the incredible things Helping Hands accomplished during the month of September:
- Distributed 2,000 pounds of produce through Farm Share at two Boys & Girls Clubs
- Secured 705 gallons of milk through a milk drive with Grocery Outlet
- Collected 5,000 pounds of protein in just 4 hours through a food drive at the Friendship House
- Saw an extra 30,000 pounds of food come into Helping Hands – that’s 36,000 extra meals that went out to the community!
- Raised $6,063 for the Food-4-Kids Campaign
- Had 12 new food bank volunteers sign-up because they saw all the action on social media
- Hosted a “lunch-and-learn” that brought schools, WIC representatives, the United Way, Skagit County officials, and members of the communities together to discuss food programs in Skagit County
- Inspired the Sedro-Woolley School District to pilot an evening brown bag meal program, which will allow kids can take food home for dinner
This is a great example of how a few individuals can make a huge difference in their community. Together we can make sure that #HungerDoesntHaveToHappen!