Feeding Wisconsin Asks Dairy State To Take Action To End Hunger This September

MADISON, Wis. - Aug. 31, 2016 - PRLog -- This September Feeding Wisconsin and its network of participating food banks, together with the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks, will mobilize across all 50 states in an effort to bring an end to hunger. Hunger Action Month is designed to inspire people to take action and raise awareness of the fact that 48 million Americans, including 15 million children, are food insecure, according to the USDA.

In Wisconsin, nearly 700,000 people struggle with hunger and may not know where they'll find their next meal. That number includes one in six kids who may not have enough to eat.

September marks the ninth year the Feeding America network of food banks has organized this annual call to action. The Feeding Wisconsin state network of food banks, which includes Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, Feed My People Food Bank, Second Harvest Heartland, Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank and Channel One Regional Food Bank, has participated in each Hunger Action Month. This year the campaign will focus on the strong connections between hunger and health.

The Hunger Action Month 2016 campaign asks people to consider how it must feel to live with an empty stomach, which puts a healthy life and a promising future at risk.

"The connections between hunger and health are plain: if people don't have access to enough healthful food to eat, they are less healthy and will have more negative health outcomes. Our goal is to fight hunger and improve health for all families living in our state and we hope that our friends and neighbors throughout the state will join us in this important fight," said David Lee, Executive Director of Feeding Wisconsin.

According to the Feeding America study, Hunger in America 2014, nearly half of households served by the Feeding America network include someone that is in either fair or poor health.

"I've spent many days on the road this past year, visiting food banks, food pantries, and meal programs and meeting people who are facing hunger," said Diana Aviv, CEO of Feeding America. "I've seen firsthand the anguish that food insecurity and hunger can cause. It is always heartbreaking to meet a mother or father who fears that they will not be able to feed their children. They know that their children cannot reach their full potential if they don't have enough to eat."

Hunger Action Day®, the second Thursday in September, is a day where efforts across the country are focused for greater impact.

This year, on September 8, Feeding Wisconsin asks supporters to share what they couldn't do without adequate nutrition by writing on an empty plate, "On an empty stomach I can't ______," and filling in the blank with something they couldn't achieve without the nutrition we need to thrive.

These photos can be posted to social media with #HungerActionMonth, @FeedingWI and @FeedingAmerica to join the conversation.

"With the combined effort of Feeding America, the nationwide network of food banks and hunger advocates across the country, the goal of this campaign is to raise awareness about hunger and inspire Americans to get involved," Aviv said. "The Feeding America network is leading the fight to end hunger in the U.S. We all have a role to play in getting food to our neighbors in need. Advocate. Educate. Volunteer. Donate."

To learn more about Feeding Wisconsin and other ways you can get involved for Hunger Action Month in Wisconsin, please visit http://www.feedingwi.org/hunger/hunger_action_month_2016.php or HungerActionMonth.org (http://www.feedingamerica.org/take-action/campaigns/hunge...).

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About Feeding Wisconsin
Feeding Wisconsin is the statewide association of the six Feeding America food banks that provide emergency food assistance and access to benefit assistance in every corner of the state. Its mission is to coordinate, support and enhance the work of its members by securing food and funds, raising public awareness and creating the partnerships necessary to end hunger. The Feeding Wisconsin network of food banks provides over 40 million meals every year to nearly 600,000 people. Together, we are striving forward toward a hunger free Wisconsin.

About Feeding America®

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America 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. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate.  Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org.