An average of 11 percent of households in the United States are food insecure, according to theUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA). While the holidays are traditionally a time of giving,hunger is a problem year round. We encourage you to make a New Year’s resolution to join the fight against this crisis. Not sure where to start? Here are five easy ways you can get involved. Remember: Every little bit helps!
Volunteer Year Round
Volunteer Year RoundVolunteer your time at a local soup kitchen, food pantry, or non-profit organization that supports the fight against hunger. Soup kitchens typically need volunteers seven days a week, 365 days a year. If you’re not sure where you can help, check outFeed America’s handy map to find a food bank near you.
Donate (Nutritious) Food
If you have excess food or are able to purchase food to donate, consider giving directly to a local food pantry or soup kitchen. Keep in mind that it's always best togive nourishing and non-perishable items. In particular, food pantries appreciate canned foods such as: tuna, salmon, chicken, beef, peanut butter, beans, and fruits and vegetables that contain no added salt or sugar.
Organize Your Own Nunbelievable Food Drive
The non-profit groupMove for Hunger can help you set up your own food drive. This hunger-fighting organization has a nationwide network and offers tips on how to get started, what types of foods to collect, where to host your event, and more. They will even create a flyer about your food drive for you to distribute in your neighborhood and they can send out media alerts to your local newspapers, radio, and television stations about your food drive—and all for free!
Recycle for a Cause
Collect the extra bags from shopping at the grocery store and donate them to your local food pantry. They always need bags to pack and distribute food. It’s easy, it’s helpful — and of course it’sfree!
Open Your Wallet
Consider donating money to a hunger-relief organization. If you’re not sure where to start, the USDA has a list (click here) of reliable choices for making a charitable donation to help fight hunger.
And of course, you can always purchase heavenlyNunbelievable cookies and make a delicious difference. For every box you order we’ll make a contribution to one of our partners in the fight against hunger. And from December 27 through January 5, you can save 20% on your purchase by using the promo codeNEWYEAR20. You'll be helping people in need and satisfying your sweet tooth at the same time. It doesn't get much better than that!
