Throughout history, people in America have united to drive change. This September, during Hunger Action Month, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is calling on Northeast Ohio to come together once again to fight hunger in the region.
Food insecurity in America has reached its highest rate in over a decade, reaching over 47 million people facing hunger, including 14 million children. In the Foodbank’s eight-county service area, an estimated 1 in 7 individuals and nearly 20% of children may struggle with hunger.
Due to ongoing inflation and economic challenges, the need for help with groceries is higher now than it was during the pandemic. Despite the needs facing the community, funding cuts on both the federal and state levels are making it challenging for the Foodbank to serve the region. These cuts equate to the Foodbank receiving approximately 5-6 million fewer pounds of food from government sources and this gap will likely carry into 2026.
With visits to the Foodbank at an all-time high and significant cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid recently signed into law, the demand for food will likely increase at a time when food supplies to the Foodbank are reduced.
“Significant cuts to government programs have constricted our ability to sustain food distribution at the same level provided to our region in 2024,” said Foodbank President and CEO Dan Flowers. “The Foodbank is focused on maintaining support to our network of partners and the people we serve as we face significant reductions to safety net programs. We need your help. Now is the time to come together and meet this moment with action."
People can get involved by participating in the Hunger Action Month activities below:
BE SOCIAL – Post on social media why you’re a part of the fight against hunger. Create your own posts or use the Foodbank’s social graphics and suggested copy in its Hunger Action Month Toolkit. Learn more at akroncantonfoodbank.org/HAM.
HUNGER ACTION DAY – On Sept. 9 wear orange, the color of hunger relief. Snap a photo to share on social media using #acrfb and #HungerActionMonth.
VOLUNTEER – Visit akroncantonfoodbank.org/volunteer to learn about volunteer opportunities.
MAKE A DONATION – $1 can help provide enough food 3 meals.
Volunteer. Engage. Advocate. Donate. Take action today by joining your Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank at akroncantonfoodbank.org/HAM or 330.535.6900.