Food Shouldn’t Be An Impossible Choice!
Meredith Knopp
Food shouldn’t be an impossible choice – yet for 1 in 9 people in Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois facing hunger – they are making impossible choices far too often. Do I pay my utility bill – or eat. Can I buy groceries this week, or do I buy the allergy medicine that my child needs to thrive at school? Stop for a moment and think, if something happened and you could no longer afford to pay your bills, what would YOU choose to go without? Food? Electricity? Paying your mortgage? Medicine for you or a loved one? Transportation? Child Care? These are impossible choices that no one should have to make – yet far too many of us are making these impossible choices every month.
During the month of September, the Feeding America Network of food banks come together to raise awareness and inspire action to support our communities in a campaign aptly named, Hunger Action Month. Here are a few ways you can join the St. Louis Area Foodbank and TAKE ACTION to help those in our community facing food insecurity:
Host a Food Drive:
Encourage your friends, co-workers, or community members to come together to fight hunger, no matter where they are. Consider hosting a virtual food drive! This simple collection of funds allows the St. Louis Area Foodbank to utilize their buying power to purchase food with funds donated to your drive. Or perhaps a physical food drive where you collect food and personal care items is more up your alley. To host a food drive, click HERE.
Shop at Dierbergs and support the Foodbank:
Dierbergs and Kellogg’s are inviting you to help feed our community by shopping at Dierbergs between September 5th and September 25th by purchasing specially marked Kellogg’s brand items, OR by donating to the St Louis Area Foodbank at the register. Proceeds from this campaign will benefit our Food on the Move program, helping ensure equitable access to healthy and nutritious foods across our region.
Donate Funds:
Sourcing and distributing over 53 million pounds of food each year is simply not possible without the generosity of our donors. Consider a tax-deductible financial gift to ensure that no one must choose between food and the necessities that each of us take for granted each day. To donate, click HERE.
You can also DOUBLE your gift on September 15th during our annual ‘Hunger Action Day’ sponsored by BMO Harris Bank. Donations will be matched up to $25,000.
Volunteer your time:
Roll up your sleeves and dive in to support your community. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our work and we have a variety of volunteer opportunities available for individuals, families, and groups. If you can’t join us at one of our major events, like our 9/11 Day of Service at the Enterprise Center, please consider volunteering with family and friends at the Foodbank, your local food pantry, or at one of our mobile distributions. To see a list of volunteer opportunities click available HERE.
Lend your voice – be an advocate!
Did you know that one in seven children in the bi-state region suffer from food insecurity or that 53% of households must choose between putting food on the table or paying for their utilities? Throughout September we will be sharing information to educate the public about the crisis of food insecurity. Follow us (@stlfoodbank) on social media, get educated, and share the information with your networks.
JOIN US on Hunger Action Day!
This year the St Louis Area Foodbank is hosting 2 events on Friday, September 15th – which is also Hunger Action Day!
Hunger Action Day Symposium
(Location: St Louis Area Foodbank 70 Corporate Woods Drive, Bridgeton, MO 63044- 7:30am to 9am)
To commemorate Hunger Action Day the St. Louis Area Foodbank is bringing together community partners, leaders, and changemakers to discuss the state of hunger in the bi-state region and the work being done by the St. Louis Area Foodbank, our partners, and collaborators to nourish people, empower communities, and transform systems. Please RSVP at www.hamstl.org.
Hunger Action Day at the Wheel
(Location: 201 S. 18th Street, St Louis, MO 63103).
Our friends at The St. Louis Wheel™ are joining in the Hunger Action Day fun with a day-long food drive and offering guests a buy one, get one free ticket deal with the donation of a nonperishable food item or on-site donation to help regional neighbors battling food insecurity. We aim to fill a gondola with donated food items and need your help to make it happen – we look forward to seeing you there!
Regardless as to how you choose to join us this month- by donating your time, talents, or treasures to the St. Louis Area Foodbank, please know we are TRULY grateful for your support helping ensure fewer of our neighbors must make impossible choices in the future. Because we know for a fact, while hunger can affect anyone – anyone can affect hunger!
