Focus on food insecurity during Anti Hunger Month

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AKRON, Ohio – Karen Warner packs food in bags and boxes for cars parked outside the Akron-Canton regional food bank, while waiting for the food distribution to begin.


What would you like to know

  • September is Hunger Action Month, and food banks across the state are mobilizing support for their efforts to end hunger
  • In northeast Ohio, the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank said its volunteers had helped meet increased needs
  • In the eight counties served by the Akron-Canton regional food bank, one in seven people could go hungry this year, including one in six children

This is something the food bank volunteer has been doing for six years.

Warner’s dedication to volunteering to help those facing food insecurity stems from his own experiences.

“I was in need at one point in my life when my children were young. I was terrified that my kids would be hungry and luckily I had some really good friends and they helped me through the tough times, ”Warner said.

September is Fight Hunger Month, and more than 200 Feeding America food banks nationwide are mobilizing in all 50 states to raise awareness of hunger.

Warner said it’s important to let people in need know it’s okay to ask for help.

“Don’t be embarrassed about it. Oh my God. Everyone needs a helping hand every now and then. You have to have your food, ”Warner said.

She said it’s also important to educate people about the constant need for food bank volunteers.

“If we don’t have volunteers, it just doesn’t happen. These are all gifts here. If we don’t process the donations, there is no one else to do it, ”she said.

Especially now that the coronavirus pandemic continues, which has made more families dependent on food aid.

“Because of the variation that is going around, now that school has started and masking is used a little more, you start to see a lot more people in need who just don’t go to the grocery store. They are afraid of it, ”she said.

According to Feeding America, 42 million Americans could face hunger because of the coronavirus pandemic.

During Anti Hunger Month and beyond, the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank encourages everyone to volunteer, advocate, or donate.

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