September is Hunger Action Month™— Feeding America’s annual nationwide campaign designed to inspire people to take action and raise awareness of hunger in the United States. This past year, 1 in 3 of our neighbors experienced food insecurity in Eastern Massachusetts. While we may not realize it, each of us knows someone who is hungry—that’s why we all have a role to play in ending hunger here.
Food shouldn’t be an impossible choice. For millions of people in America, a daily meal isn’t a choice between different dishes. It’s a choice between food and other crucial needs—like medicine, electricity, or childcare.
You have a choice. Choose to help end hunger by donating, fundraising, volunteering, learning about hunger in your community, or advocating. Your support helps us to provide food to meet the urgent need in our communities.
Check out our Hunger Action Month Toolkit!
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Advocacy Updates
Join the Massachusetts Hunger Free Campus Coalition, co-led by The Greater Boston Food Bank, for a College Hunger Day of Awareness at the MA State House on Monday, September 18!
Stream the hearing live, starting at 10am, or show your support in-person at the Gardner Auditorium.
Missed the hearing? You can still submit written testimony to voice your support for this legislation that addresses hunger on public universities and college campuses. Learn more here.
Public policy and advocacy are key components of our mission to #EndHungerHere across Eastern Massachusetts. On Monday, our team will be at the MA State House testifying before the Joint Committee on Higher Education in support of An Act establishing the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative (H.1293/ S.835). GBFB co-leads a statewide coalition to end hunger on college campuses, the MA Hunger Free Campus Coalition, made up of 130 members across the state. Students and advocates are testifying on the need to address the food insecurity experienced by 1 in 3 public and community college students statewide at the 10am hearing.
Hunger Action Month Activities:
Monday, September 11: Boston Meal Pack for 9/11 Day
Join Boston-area volunteers to honor the anniversary of 9/11 by packing 335,000 healthy, non-perishable meals to be donated to The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) for distribution to individuals and families at risk of hunger in the Boston area. Now in its third year, the Boston Meal Pack for 9/11 Day is one of 18 that are planned in cities across America. Learn more and register to volunteer here.
Friday, September 15: Hunger Action Day®
Hunger Action Day® is a time for hunger relief advocates to spotlight our anti-hunger efforts on one day for greater impact. On this day, join Boston landmarks and GBFB in going orange – the national color of hunger. Post a selfie on social media to show support and generate awareness (tag @Gr8BosFoodBank and use the hashtags #EndHungerHere or #HungerActionMonth)! Do you know a building or landmark that should go orange on Hunger Action Day? Please reach out to Public Policy Manager, Kate Adams at kadams@gbfb.org for more information.
Monday, September 18: College Hunger Hearing
An Act establishing the Hunger Free Campus Initiative (H.1293/ S.385) will be heard before the Joint Committee on Higher Education at 10am at the Massachusetts Statehouse. GBFB, along with the Food Bank of Western MA and the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, leads the MA Hunger Free Campus Coalition, a statewide group of 130+ coalition members working to end hunger on campuses across the state. Join us at the statehouse or tune in virtually to hear testimony from students and advocates on the need to address food insecurity experienced by 1 in 3 public and community college students.
Tuesday, September 19: National Voter Registration Day
According to U.S. Census data from 2020, as many as 1 in 4 eligible Americans are not registered to vote. National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday aimed at increasing voter registration. Take a moment to make sure you are registered to vote and check out these resources to help get your friends, family, and broader community registered to vote. Together, we can vote out hunger in local, state, and federal elections!
Wednesday, September 20: WCVB Day of Giving
Tune in to WCVB Channel 5 on Thursday, September 22 to learn more about how GBFB and our partners are serving families in need across Eastern Massachusetts, hosted by Karen Holmes Ward. Be part of this fundraising event and donate today.
Want to increase awareness of hunger in your city or town? Encourage your mayor to issue a proclamation to declare September Hunger Action Month™!
Advocacy Priorities:
Join us as we advocate for…
- Federal policy solutions to end hunger in Eastern MA. Voice your recommendations to be included in the upcoming White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. Reach out to your member of Congress and let them know what policy solutions you’d like to see. Learn more about GBFB’s recommendations.
- Addressing food insecurity for Massachusetts college students by urging state legislators to support H.1368/S.822. Learn more about the Hunger Free Campus Coalition, co-led by GBFB and the Food Bank of Western MA.
- Thank your legislators for the FY23 budget investments in food insecurity programs!
- Making hunger an electoral issue by encouraging our neighbors to register to vote in their municipal elections this fall. Learn how you can Vote to End Hunger.
Please reach out to govrelations@gbfb.org for more information on our policy and advocacy priorities.