August 31, 2010

Hunger Action Month is Here!

Author: Sasha Hausman

Hi all!

Can you believe that Hunger Action Month starts TOMORROW?? Food Banks all around the country are gearing up for an exciting September filled with many different events and programs. Of course Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is no exception.

Our call to action this year is “30 Ways in 30 Days”. We are giving everyone in the community 30 different ways they can help fight hunger in Central Florida.

Why is Hunger Action Month important?
Approximately 1 in 5 of our population—732,000 people—needed food assistance in Central Florida last year. This is a 152% increase from 2006. The only way we can close the gap on hunger is with the community’s help. The need is tremendous in Central Florida…but so is the impact you can have.

So how can I help?

OK, here’s the deal…be sure to check out our Hunger Action Month Microsite. On this site, you will find everything you need to know about the activities happening throughout September. You will also find a downloadable copy of our “30 Ways in 30 Days” Calendar. Print it out and check out the action each day!
 
Here are some highlights…

• Hunger Action Month Kick-off: September 2nd at CRAVE Restaurant from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm. We will be sharing our 30 ways calendar and explaining what everyone can do to take action this September.

• TAKE THE PLEDGE! The food bank that receives the most amount of pledges will receive a truckload of food from Feeding America. Take the pledge here and don’t forget to tell your friends!

• JOIN THE HUDDLE! Kraft Foods is sponsoring the “Huddle to Fight Hunger”. Along with many other initiatives, they are giving each food bank 1 meal for everyone who joins the huddle and gives a zip code in their service area. So be sure to join the huddle and give a Central Florida zip code!

• PORTRAITS OF HUNGER SHOWCASE: The winner of our Portraits of Hunger Photography contest will be announced along with a display of the photo submissions that we received for the contest. Bring a bag or box of food donations (non-perishable) and receive one ticket for a free bottle of Peroni. One free Peroni per person. We hope to see you at Enzian’s Eden Bar on Thursday, September 30! Program starts at 7:30 p.m.

I hope everyone is excited for Hunger Action Month! We would love it if you could send our Hunger Action Month e-card to your friends to let them know all about what they can do to help this September.

My personal “way” I am helping out this month is by BOGOing. Whenever I go food shopping, I will buy one for me, and get one for a family in need. I can’t wait to see what your “way” is.
 
Happy Hunger Action Month!

Sasha Hausman
Development Manager

January 19, 2010

Pound for Pound: Week 1

Author: Brady Koch

The Pound for Pound challenge kicked off this week at the food bank and we all got on our pallet scale to get our cumulative “before” weights. We have so many participants at each of our different warehouses that we all couldn’t fit on the scale at once. Hey, no snide remarks about that. Collectively we weighed in at 2,809 lbs.

One of the things we’re doing this week to get healthy is walking the perimeter of the warehouse during lunch. Four laps is the equivalent to one mile. So next time you visit us for one of our Food For Thought sessions, don’t worry that all of the staff are circling the building. We’re making a commitment to health while fighting hunger.

Remember that General Mills donates $.14 for each pound you pledge to lose through the Pound for Pound challenge. If you want to make your pledge or learn more please visit http://www.pfpchallenge.com/fl

We have also set up a group on facebook to update you with recipes, success stories and exercise tips. Don’t forget to join our group.

Brady Koch

Director of Agency Relations & Programs

September 10, 2009

Hunger Action Month – The Countdown Continues

Author: Maria Diestro

Week 2 of Hunger Action Month is here! I was pleased to learn that our Hunger Action Month Web site received the highest pageviews last week in my stats report. Thanks to everyone for making the time to check it out.

Before we continue our countdown, I’d like to give a Portraits of Hunger Photo Contest Update. We have over 400 votes in our system! There are only 8 more days left to vote and don’t forget that you can vote as many times as you want. The top three portraits right now are: Courage, Grocery Day and Hungry Eyes. So get to it and vote for your favorite today!

Lots to do this week on our 30 Ways in 30 Days calendar. Below are actions that you can take:

#21 Become an Advocate

There are so many ways that one can be an advocate. The most common way is to speak out in support of Second Harvest Food Bank and to let people know about the work we do here in Central Florida. Another more direct way is by writing letters to your government representatives.

We recently launched our Hunger Action Center and now have the capibility that allows you to do just this. Your support can help launch a nationwide expansion of the Afterschool Meal Program, allowing children from ALL states to benefit from a nutritious meal after school. Click here to take action.

#20 National Day of Service
In April, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act which, for the first time, officially recognizes September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. This year, on September 11, the President, the Corporation for National and Community Service, MyGoodDeed and the 9/11 families will ask all Americans to remember that Tuesday eight years ago and recommit to service in their communities throughout the year.

On the UnitedWeServe Web site you can find volunteer opportunities or you can register your service project. At Second Harvest we strongly believe in giving back to our community.

#19 Pledge to Fight Hunger
In the month of September we are asking people to Take the Pledge to Fight Hunger. We want you to join in the commitment to end hunger. We are asking you to pledge the following four things:

• Learn more about the largely invisible problem of hunger.
• Work to find ways to fight hunger in my own community.
• Fight for anti-hunger laws by joining Second Harvest Food Banks action center.
• Actively educate my friends, family and acquaintances about hunger and what can be done about it.

Once you sign the pledge, make sure to tell 5 of your friends about it.

That wraps up this week’s actions!  In case you missed it, Change the World’s blog writer Kate Santich did a nice write up on Monday about Hunger Action Month titled: Take Action Against Hunger All Month Long.

Until next week,

Maria Diestro
Online Services and Communications Manager