National Food Bank Day - How we can make a difference?

In many ways, America is the land of plenty. But for 1 in 6 people in the United States, hunger is a reality. Many people believe that the problems associated with hunger are confined to small pockets of society, certain areas of the country, or certain neighborhoods, but the reality is much different.

Right now, millions of Americans are struggling with hunger. These are often hard-working adults, children, and seniors who simply cannot make ends meet and are forced to go without food for several meals, or even days.

It’s time to educate ourselves about the causes of hunger in America. 

Feeding America network of 200 food banks across the country are first-class organizations in the fight against hunger. They are more than just distribution centers, they are core to providing hope to the communities they serve.

The following is a summary of the information found on the Feeding America Website. 

Nearly 49 million people in America face hunger. That is 1 in 6 of the U.S. population – including more than 1 in 5 children. Don’t let their struggles go unheard. Join the Feeding America network of more than 200 food banks and Speak Out Against Hunger. 

Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Their mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.

Feeding America provides emergency food assistance to an estimated 37 million low-income people annually, a 46 percent increase from 25 million since Hunger in America 2010.

Among members of Feeding America, 74 percent of pantries, 65 percent of kitchens, and 54 percent of shelters reported that there had been an increase since 2006 in the number of clients who come to their emergency food program sites.

Hunger can affect anyone. Feeding America has identified groups at risk, including young children, hunger in the suburbs, rural hunger, senior hunger, and the working poor.

Special on Childhood Hunger
Kate is a fictional character who represents the very situation in which many children find themselves when their parents lose their jobs. Find out how you can help.  http://www.feedingamerica.org/ways-to-give/

Childhood hunger hinders a young person's ability to learn. They are more likely to suffer from poverty as an adult. Scientific evidence suggests that hungry children are less likely to become productive citizens. Insufficient nutrition puts children at risk for illness and weakens their immune system. The immature immune systems of young children, ages 0 – 5, make them especially vulnerable to nutritional deprivation and as a result, the ability to learn, grow, and fight infections is adversely affected.

Please find out how you can help during National Food Bank Day. 

International Day of Charity and Hunger Action Month

 Hunger knows no boundaries — it touches every community in the U.S., including your own.

The International Day of Charity is observed annually on 5 September. This day was chosen in order to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 "for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace." It was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012.

The prime purpose of the International Day of Charity is to raise awareness and provide a common platform for charity-related activities all over the world for individuals, charitable, philanthropic, and volunteer organizations for their own purposes on the local, national, regional, and international level.

A charity can alleviate the worst effects of humanitarian crises, and supplement public services in health care, education, housing, and child protection.

The following is a summary of the information found on the Feeding America Website. 

September is Hunger Action Month™, when Feeding America and member food banks ask everyone in America to take action to fight hunger in their community, all month long. Hunger Action Month is your opportunity to join a movement that has a real and lasting impact on our effort to feed more Americans than ever before. Whether it’s by advocating and raising awareness, making donations, or volunteering, you can find the way that’s right for you to make a difference during Hunger Action Month. Together, we can solve hunger.

Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs that provide food and services to people each year. Together, we are the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization. Our network serves virtually every community in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

The process of getting food to hungry Americans requires a dynamic infrastructure and sophisticated management. Feeding America secures donations from national food and grocery manufacturers, retailers, shippers, packers and growers and from government agencies and other organizations. Feeding America then moves donated food and grocery product to member food banks.

The food banks, in turn, distribute food and grocery items through food pantries and meal programs that serve families, children, seniors, and others at risk of hunger. Last year alone, the Feeding America network distributed more than 3 billion meals to people in need.

Feeding America nationwide network of food banks also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses, and government all have a role in ending hunger. 

Hunger can affect anyone. Feeding America has identified groups at risk, including young children, hunger in the suburbs, rural hunger, senior hunger, and the working poor.

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Special on Childhood Hunger
Kate is a fictional character who represents the very situation in which many children find themselves when their parents lose their jobs. Find out how you can help this Hunger Action Month http://hungeractionmonth.org/

Childhood hunger hinders a young person's ability to learn. They are more likely to suffer from poverty as an adult. Scientific evidence suggests that hungry children are less likely to become productive citizens. Insufficient nutrition puts children at risk for illness and weakens their immune system. The immature immune systems of young children, ages 0 – 5, make them especially vulnerable to nutritional deprivation and as a result, the ability to learn, grow, and fight infections are adversely affected.

Please find out how you can help during
 Hunger Action Month http://hungeractionmonth.org/

September Wellness News

Current News, Resources, and Events in Nutrition, Food, Health, Environment, Safety, and Disability Rights. Encourages awareness and inspires ideas for Journalists, Educators, Consumers, and Health Professionals. Wellness News is updated daily and includes weekly and daily events. 

Celebrate the flavors of September Produce! Fresh, seasonal, and nutritious. @Healthyfamprj https://healthyfamilyproject.com/whats-in-season-for-september/

September Health, Nutrition, and Food Events

 

Monthly

Hunger Action Month
National Childhood Obesity Awareness
National Food Safety Education Month
Fruit and Veggies - More Matters Month
Better Breakfast Month
Family Meal Month
America on the Move
Go Wild During California Wild Rice Month
Great American Low-Cholesterol,
 Low-Fat Pizza Bake Month
National Biscuit Month
National Italian Cheese Month
National Chicken Month
National Cholesterol Education Month
National Coupon Month
National Ethnic Foods Month
National Honey Month
National Mushroom Month
National Organic Harvest Month
National Papaya Month
National Potato Month
National Prime Beef Month
National Rice Month
Whole Grains Month
Hug a Texas Chef Month
Healthy Aging Month
National Yoga Month
Malnutrition Awareness Month
Baby Safety Month
National Suicide Prevention Month
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
National Recovery Month
Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month
National Menopause Awareness Month
National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
National Sickle Cell Awareness Month
Newborn Screening Awareness Month
National Service Dog Month
Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month
World Alzheimer's Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month
(September 15 October 15)
National Preparedness Month
College Savings Month
Library Card Sign-up Month
Update Your Resume Month
International Women's Friendship Month
Pain Awareness Month
Self-Improvement Month
AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Month
Mold Awareness Month

Weekly

1-7  International Enthusiasm Week

1-7 National Nutrition Week (India)

7-13  National Waffle Week

7-13  Suicide Prevention Week

7-13 National Assisted Living Week

14-20 International Clean Hands Week

21-27 National Farm Safety and Health Week

21-27 Remember to Register to VOTE

21-27 National Employ Older Workers

21-27 National Dog Week

Daily

1. Labor Day; National Cherry Popover Day; National Gyro Day; Random Acts of Kindness Day

2. Blueberry Popsicle Day; World Coconut Day; National Grits for Breakfast Day

3. National Welsh Rarebit Day; National Baby Back Ribs Day

4. Macadamia Nut Day; National Wildlife Day; Spice Blend Day

5. National Cheese Pizza Day; International Day of Charity, National Food Bank Day, Stand Up To Cancer Day

6. National Coffee Ice Cream Day; National Read A Book Day; Great Egg Toss Day, National Play Outside Day, National Tailgating Day

7. National Beer Lover’s Day; National Acorn Squash; National Salami Day; Bacon Day, Grandparents' Day

8. Intl Literacy Day; World Physical Therapy Day, Chef Appreciation Day

9. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day; California, 31st State; National Steak Au Poivre Day; National Wiener Schnitzel Day; Ants On A Log Day

10. World Suicide Prevention Day; Swap Ideas Day; TV Dinner Day

11. Patriot Day; Natl Hot Cross Bun Day; Day of Service and Remembrance

12. National Chocolate Milkshake Day; National Report Medicare Fraud Day

13. National Celiac Disease Awareness Day; National Peanut Day; Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day; Snack A Pickle Time, Farmers' Consumer Awareness Day, International Chocolate Day

14. Eat a Hoagie Day; National Kreme Filled Donut Day; National Coloring Day

15. National Linguine Day; National Cheese Toast Day; National Creme de Menthe Day; Greenpeace Day; National Online Learning Day; National Double Cheeseburger Day

16. National Guacamole Day; Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day; National Working Parents Day, National GED Day, National Voter Registration Day
17. Constitution Day; Apple Dumpling Day; National Monte Cristo Day

18. National HIV/AIDS &Aging Awareness; World Water Monitoring Day; National Cheeseburger Day; Read an E-book, National Teach Ag Day, Air Force Birthday, National Pawpaw Day

19. Butterscotch Pudding Day

20. National Punch Day; National String Cheese Day; National Pepperoni Pizza Day; National Fried Rice Day, International Eat An Apple Day, National Clean Up Day

21. World Gratitude Day; UN Intl Day of Peace; National Pecan Cookie Day; World Alzheimer's Day; National Chai Day

22. National White Chocolate Day; American Business Women’s Day; Dear Diary Day; National Ice Cream Cone Day; Family Day a Day to Eat Dinner with Your Kids

23. National Great American Pot Pie Day; National Snack Stick Day; Za'atar Day,  Dogs in Politics Day, Teal Talk Day

24. National Cherry Jubilee Day, National Familial Hypercholesterolemia Day, Women's Health & Fitness Day

25. World Ataxia Awareness Day; National Crab Newburg Day; National Cooking Day; National Quesadilla Day; National Lobster Day

26. National Pancake Day; National Dumpling Day; National Johnny Appleseed Day; National Better Breakfast Day, Hug A Vegetarian Day, National Bakery Day, Native American Day

27. World Tourism Day; National Chocolate Milk Day; National Corned Beef Hash Day, Vegan Bakery, Family Health and Fitness Day USA, R.E.A.D. in America Day,

28. National Strawberry Cream Pie Day; National Drink Beer Day, National Good Neighbor Day, World Rivers Day

29. World Heart Day; National Biscotti Day, International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste Reduction, National Coffee Day, National Energy Drink Day

30. World Maritime Day; National Mulled Cider Day; National Chewing Gum Day; Extra Virgin Olive Oil Day; National Potato Month

	Months
	January	July
	February	August
	March	September
	April	October
	May	November
	June	December

 

Stamp Out Hunger with the National Association of Letter Carriers

On Saturday, May 10, 2025, the National Association of Letter Carriers will do its part to Stamp Out Hunger across America. Now in its 33rd year, the Stamp Out Hunger effort is the nation's largest single-day food drive, collecting more than one billion pounds of food since its inception in 1993. In 2012, Americans donated more than 70 million pounds of food, marking the ninth consecutive year at least 70 million pounds were collected. 


The Stamp Out Hunger food drive provides food to local food banks and pantries that rely on donations. With more than 50 million Americans at risk of hunger, food banks nationwide continue to experience record demand for emergency food assistance.

Donate items, such as canned meats, fish, soup, bottled juice, vegetables, pasta, cereal, and rice that do not require refrigeration. Please do not include expired items or glass containers.

Help out

Place non-perishable food products in a bag and leave
them on your mailbox. Your Letter Carrier will deliver
the food to local food banks.

To find out how you can help, go to

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

World Children's Day - Resources from Around the World

2024 Theme: Listen to the future.
Stand up for children’s rights.

World Children’s Day is UNICEF’s global day of action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Child rights are human rights. They are non-negotiable and universal. But in too many places today, children’s rights are being misunderstood, disregarded, or even denied and attacked.

Upholding children’s rights is the path to a better world today, tomorrow, and in the future.

Join us on this World Children’s Day and listen to the future.

By listening to children, we can fulfil their right to self-expression, understand their ideas for a better world, and incorporate their priorities into our actions today.

Discover what’s happening and take part.

The future of tomorrow is the children of today.

A review of organizations dedicated to improving the quality of Children's lives. Presented through songs, news reports, mission statements, and children.

UNICEF, World Children's Day
WHO (World Health Organization)

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Kids Eat Right 
We Day

Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring

Listen to the future.

Stand up for children’s rights.

 152 million children are trapped in child labor. Most of them are in agriculture. #Childlabour is depriving millions of girls and boys of their childhoods. Every child has the right to a childhood. #StopChildLabour @FAO

Love Is All | Playing For Change

By resolution 836(IX) of 14 December 1954, the General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children. It suggested that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. The Assembly suggested to governments that the Day be observed on the date and in the way that each considers appropriate. The date, 20 November, marks the day the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.

In 2000, world leaders outlined Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date 2015. Though the Goals are for all humankind, they are primarily about children.

WHO 10 Facts On Nutrition

1. Malnutrition is a significant contributor to disease and early deaths for mothers and children. Undernutrition, including vitamin and mineral deficiencies, contributes to about one-third of all child deaths and impairs healthy development. At the same time, growing rates of overweight are linked to a rise in chronic diseases. The result is a double burden of malnutrition.

2. An indicator of chronic malnutrition is stunting. This is when children are too short for their age group. About 165 million children globally are stunted, resulting from not enough food, a vitamin-mineral poor diet, inadequate child care, and disease. As growth slows down, brain development lags, and stunted children learn poorly.

3. Wasting and bilateral edema are severe forms of malnutrition - resulting from acute food shortages and compounded by illness. About 1.5 million children die annually due to wasting. Rising food prices, food scarcity in conflict areas, and natural disasters diminish household access to appropriate and adequate food, all of which can lead to waste.

4. Essential vitamins and minerals in the diet are vital to boost immunity and healthy development. Vitamin A, zinc, iron, and iodine deficiencies are primary public health concerns. About 2 billion people are affected by inadequate iodine nutrition worldwide. More than one-third of preschool-age children globally are vitamin A deficient. Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children.

5. Maternal undernutrition leads to poor fetal development and a higher risk of pregnancy complications. Maternal and child undernutrition accounts for more than 10 percent of the global disease burden.

6. For healthier babies, WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, introducing age-appropriate and safe complementary foods at six months, and continuing breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond. Worldwide, about 20% of deaths among children under five could be avoided if these feeding guidelines are followed. Appropriate feeding decreases rates of stunting and obesity and stimulates intellectual development in young children.

7. Nutritional problems in adolescents start during childhood and continue into adulthood. Anemia is a critical nutritional problem in adolescent girls. Preventing early pregnancies and assuring adequate intake of essential nutrients for developing girls can reduce maternal and child deaths later and stop cycles of malnutrition from one generation to the next. Globally, anemia affects 42% of pregnant women.

8. The rise in overweight and obesity worldwide is a significant public health challenge. People of all ages and backgrounds face this form of malnutrition. As a consequence, rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other diet-related conditions are escalating worldwide. These are very difficult to treat in places with limited resources and already overburdened health systems. About 43 million children under age five are overweight, according to 2011 figures. 

9. Nutrition information is required to identify the areas where assistance is most needed. WHO released international child growth standards that provide benchmarks to compare children's nutritional status within and across countries and regions. 

10. Public education is another way to improve nutritional health. Starting in China during the Beijing Olympics and continuing in other countries, WHO and the Member States will promote the "5 keys" to a healthy diet:

a. give your baby only breast milk for the first six months of life

b. eat a variety of foods

c. eat plenty of vegetables and fruits

d. eat moderate amounts of fat and oils

e. eat less salt and sugars

Resources

Kids Eat Right

In November 2010, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and ADA Foundation officially launched their first joint initiative, Kids Eat Right. The two-tiered campaign aims to mobilize ADA members to participate in childhood obesity prevention efforts and to educate families, communities, and policymakers about the importance of quality nutrition.

Mission: The Kids Eat Right campaign was launched to support public education projects and programs that address the national health concern of obesity among our children. 

To learn more about the Kids Eat Right Campaign, visit:

Website. Kids Eat Right

Facebook.  Kids Eat Right

"Raffi" (Raffi Cavoukian), C.M., O.B.C. 

Founder and Chair 
Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring

"Imagine a new idea as vital as a democracy.
Now imagine helping it spread
quickly throughout the world!
Child Honouring is one such idea,
an idea whose time has come.

 - Raffi

He is known to millions as "Raffi,"" a beloved songwriter and performer, author, ecology advocate, and founder of the Centre for Child Honouring. Child Honouring is a vision for creating a humane and sustainable world by addressing the universal needs of children.

Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring and join "the compassion revolution."

Young People Marching

Turn This World Around

Raffi's tribute to humanity's hero sprang from Mandela's call to global leaders in 2000 to turn this world around for the children. In 2001, Raffi sang this for Nelson Mandela at Toronto's Ryerson University. The song expresses the essence of Raffi's Child Honouring philosophy, a children-first paradigm for societal change. A child-friendly world enriches all of us and offers the best chance to create sustainable cultures. All children want to live in peace and to follow their dreams.

World Food Programme

As the most significant humanitarian provider of school meals worldwide, the World Food Programme ( WFP), along with governments and partners, supports education, reduces malnutrition, and promotes development, especially during crises and emergencies.

Nearly all countries worldwide have a school meals program, and about 368 million children from kindergarten to secondary school receive daily food. Governments recognize school meals as an essential tool for developing and growing children, communities, and society.

WFP provides school meals to more than 20 million children every year. But many more children do not benefit from school meals, and in countries with the highest poverty rates where school meals would make a big difference, the reach of school meal programs is far smaller. 

Schools are critical in WFP's efforts to create a world where educational and nutritional opportunities reach the hungry poor. It's where we lay the foundation for future generations to grow and thrive.

October 16, World Food Day - Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together

 World Food Day

Either we build a future for all, or
there will be no acceptable future for anyone.

World Food Day

World Food Day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in November 1979. FAO celebrates World Food Day each year on October 16th, the day on which the Organization was founded in 1945.

The official World Food Day theme is announced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The goal is to focus on World Food Day observances and raise awareness and understanding of approaches to ending hunger. 

The 2024 theme, "Right to food for a better life and a better future  is a Human Right." 

World Food Day

 

Food is the essence of life and the bedrock of our cultures and communities. Preserving access to safe and nutritious food is and will continue to be an essential part of the response to, particularly for, poor and vulnerable communities.

In a moment like this, it is more important than ever to recognize the need to support our food heroes - farmers and workers throughout the food system - who ensure that food makes its way from farm to fork, even amid disruptions.

Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts—making sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. 

The three main goals are the eradication of hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

The objectives of World Food Day are to:
    Don’t waste water.

    Diversify your diet.
    Keep fish populations afloat.
    Keep soils and water clean.
    Buy organic
    Energy-efficient is best
    Use solar panels or other green energy systems
    Buy only what you need
    Pick ugly fruits and vegetables
    Don’t let labels fool you
    Limit your plastic
    Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum
    Store food wisely
    Love your leftovers
    Make plant food
    Be rubbish-savvy
    Make cities greener
    Shop local.
    Protect forests and save paper.
    Bike, walk, or use public transport
    Be a conscientious consumer
    Keep up to date on climate change
    Be an advocate!

*Encourage attention to agricultural food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral, and non-governmental efforts to this end;

*Encourage economic and technical cooperation among developing countries;

*Encourage the participation of rural people, particularly women and the least privileged categories, in decisions and activities influencing their living conditions;

*Heighten public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world;

*Promote the transfer of technologies to the developing world; and

*Strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition, and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development.

To learn more about World Food Day, visit the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).