MA Governor Declares September Hunger Action Month: What To Know

BOSTON – Gov. Charlie Baker issued a proclamation declaring September "Hunger Action Month" in the state and Mayor Marty Walsh declared Thursday, Sept. 12 "Hunger Action Day" in the City of Boston.

In conjunction with the declaration The Greater Boston Food Bank - the largest hunger-relief organization in New England -announced it will highlight food insecurity in Eastern Massachusetts throughout the month to raise awareness and money for the cause.

“This marks the twelfth year of Hunger Action Month–a nationwide effort asking people to take on hunger in their communities in whatever way they can,” said Catherine D’Amato, president and CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank in a statement. “Nearly 500,000 people in Eastern Massachusetts are food insecure and don’t know where their next meal is coming from. During September, we are asking people to take some kind of action and every one counts towards our vision to become Hunger Free by 2028.”

The cost of food in Massachusetts is the highest in the country, according to “Map the Meal Gap 2018,” the latest report by Feeding America, a nationwide network of 200 US food banks.

The food insecurity rate in Massachusetts is 1 in 11, and 1 in 9 children live in food-insecure households.

“With so many critical policy changes around the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) being considered by the USDA,” said GBFB Director of Public Affairs Catherine Drennan, “September is the perfect time to take action in support of the thousands of people across our state that face hunger every day. If we don’t act now, nearly 90,000 Massachusetts residents could lose access to their nutrition benefits and more than half a million kids might lose their school meals.”

Hunger Action Month is a national awareness campaign by Feeding America and its network of 200 food banks across the country.

The Greater Boston Food Bank is encouraging people to get involved with a number of events:

HUNGER ACTION DAY – SEPT. 12

• TURN BOSTON ORANGE FOR HUNGER ACTION DAY
  • On Hunger Action Day, Sept. 12, local Boston landmarks including the Prudential Center, Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, Boston City Hall, Boston Harbor Hotel, Atlantic Wharf and more will be lit up the color orange—the symbolic color of hunger.

HUNGER ACTION LAWN ON D POWERED BY CITIZENS EVENT – SEPT. 14

• YOUNG PROFESSIONAL EVENT AT LAWN ON D
  • The Greater Boston Food Bank’s Kitchen Cabinet, which is their young professional networking group, in partnership with Citizen’s Bank and SPARK Boston, will hold a young professional hunger awareness event to share more information about this issue of food insecurity and celebrate the one-year birthday of the co-branded Citizens and GBFB truck. There will be a truck on-site to take photos in, cake and selfie station. Come mingle and learn more about food insecurity in Boston. To learn more, visit the Facebook event page.

WCVB PROJECT COMMUNITY TELEVENT – SEPT. 17

• Tune into WCVB/Channel 5 for an all-day “televent” to raise awareness and funds for The Greater Boston Food Bank and Hunger Action Month, between 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., hosted by Maria Stephanos. There will be food bank volunteers, partners and supporters answering the phones and taking donations. For more information, reach out to press@gbfb.org.

HUNGER ACTION DAY OF ACTION/RALLY – SEPT. 24

• ADVOCACY DAY AT THE STATE HOUSE
  • The Food Bank Coalition of Massachusetts, including the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Merrimack Valley Food Bank, The Greater Boston Food Bank and Worcester County Food Bank, in partnership with Feeding America and Massachusetts’ hunger-relief organizations, including MLRI, MA Food System Collaborative, MA Public Health Association and others will hold an Advocacy Day of Action at the State House to activate supporters to participate in a public rally outside the State House, and visit their State Senators and Representatives and urge them to advocate for strong hunger policies. To learn more, visit the Facebook event page.

10TH ANNIVERSARY WOMEN FIGHTING HUNGER – SEPT. 25

• ANNUAL FUNDRAISER AT SEAPORT HOTEL BOSTON
  • For the 10th year, join Women Fighting Hunger, a compassionate group of women who join GBFB to respond to the challenge of hunger in our community. They follow the tradition of women helping others by gathering together with business and community leaders on a regular basis to support the work of GBFB. To learn more, visit www.gbfb.org/women-fighting-hunger-annual-breakfast.