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Couple donate items to food and clothing drive

Source: Steve Debenport / Getty

HOUSTON…Each year, Houston Food Bank provides more than 79 million nutritious meals to food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers and other agencies, feeding 800,000 people each year.  Individuals and families who have never before needed help have become ‘the new poor’ and turn to food pantries and other sources for sustenance.
 
To bring awareness to the important issue of hunger, the Houston Food Bank and hunger relief agencies across the country have designated September as Hunger Action Month. Thursday. September 8 is the official Hunger Action Day.  
 

Here in Houston, the theme for the month is HUNGER BITES, BITE BACK, which has a double meaning plus a call to action: one, hunger is a bad thing; two, that it has a painful, biting effect on those who suffer from it; and we can all “bite back” by taking action to help our neighbors in need. Hashtag for the month is #hungerbites
 
“Everyone can play a role in the fight against hunger – advocate, educate, volunteer or donate – all year round and especially during Hunger Action Month,” says Brian Greene, president/CEO of Houston Food Bank.  “The word ‘action’ drives home that important message. People can make a difference by advocating or giving time and energy, sharing information on social media or donating food and funds to help neighbors in need.”
 
Special activities and events the Houston Food Bank has planned for Hunger Action Month are: 
 
·         Houston City Hall will be colored orange – September 6-9
The official color of hunger relief is orange, and in support of Hunger Action Month and Houston Food Bank’s efforts, City of Houston will illuminate our City Hall building in orange September 6-9. Stop by and take a “selfie” to post to social media!
 
·         Karbach Happy Hour for Hunger – Thursday, September 8, 5-8 pm
Location: Karbach Brewing Co. 2032 Karbach St. 
In recognition of Hunger Action Month, Karbach Brewing Co. has teamed up with the Houston Food Bank to host the Karbach Happy Hour for Hunger. Please join us for $20 for three beers and a souvenir pint glass. 
 
·         Helpie Hour: Rock the Box Edition  – Thursday, September 29, 6-9 pm
Location: Houston Food Bank 535 Portwall St. 
Helpie Hour is a volunteer event targeted towards Houston’s young professionals. After their shift, volunteers will be able to mingle over food and drinks in the HFB Lobby. There will also be a free music performance.
 
·         SOS Taste of the Nation Houston – September 20, 6-9 pm 
More than 40 of Houston’s hottest chefs and mixologists will donate their time, talent and passion with one goal in mind: to raise the critical funds needed to end childhood hunger in America. In addition to delicious food, fine wines, local craft beers and premium spirits, guests will also enjoy a premium silent auction, and the opportunity to network with the region’s tastemakers and trend setters. The Corinthian, 202 Fannin Street.  General Admission: $125, 6-9 pm; VIP Admission: $200, 5:30-9 pm. For tickets and information, visit http://ce.strength.org/Houston
 
·         Large-scale volunteer events

Hundreds of volunteers from these corporations will donate time in the Houston Food Bank’s colorful volunteer area: sorting, packing and processing food.

o   Pacific Dental Services – September 10
o   Chevron Humankind Campaign – September 12 – the month of October
o   MAN Diesel & Turbo North America Inc. – September 21
 
·         Kick Hunger Pep Rally with Houston Texans – September 21, 6-9 pm
The NFL’s Kick Hunger Challenge to raise funds for hunger relief launches for the season in NFL cities across the country.  The Houston Texans will host a festive event at the Houston Food Bank.
 
·         University of Houston’s Bauer College Alumni Association 5th Annual 9/11 National Day of Service – Saturday, September 17, morning
 
·         Girl Scouts Patch Program – September 27
Girls can earn a patch for volunteer hours to show their commitment to hunger relief while expanding their knowledge about the issues facing individuals with food insecurity.
 
·         Bank of America Give-a-Meal program – throughout September 
Bank of America’s “Give a Meal” program offers easy ways to make a difference through online contributions.  Watch Houston Food Bank Facebook and Twitter pages for details.
 
·         Hunger Fighters Community Partner Launch 
Hunger Fighter Community Partners recognizes volunteer groups for their ongoing commitment in leading the fight against hunger.  The first Community Partners will be announced during Hunger Action Month.
 
·         #Helpie Social Media Campaign
Speaking of selfies and social media, don’t forget to snap and post your #helpie during Hunger Action Month!  What’s a #helpie?  It’s a selfie snapped while volunteering and helping others and posted on social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.  Posting a #Helpie will help shine a light – even if for a moment – on everyday people who make a huge difference in our organization and our community.  HFB cannot express how important volunteers are to the organization’s mission to feed the hungry – they provide approximately 8,700 hours of service to our organization each week!
 
·         Meals in a SNAP! Campaign 
Think you can make a nutritious meal with just $4?  If so, prepare it and SNAP it, and post it on social media!  For the more than one million food insecure children, adults and seniors who face hunger every day in the 18 southeast Texas counties served by the Houston Food Bank, SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the federal program, commonly referred to as “food stamps,” that helps individuals and families purchase nutritious food from local grocery stores.  It is one of the best long-term strategies for addressing food insecurity, but sadly, Texas has one of the lowest participation rates in the country.  The current average SNAP budget is just under $4 a day for an individual, or nearly $28 a week. But we want to see what sort of delicious, nutritious meals you can prepare for $4, and have created shopping lists to help you, which can be found at www.houstonfoodbank.org/mealsinasnap #MealsinaSNAP
 
·         “Hunger Bites. Bite Back.”  Photo Campaign on HFB website and social media – all month
During September, look for photos of local notables, celebrities and friends of the Houston Food Bank who posed with our signature green apple and told us what they do to help fight hunger in Houston!
 
·         Themed food drive for volunteers – Canned protein, such as tuna or chicken in water
Throughout the year, volunteers are asked to consider bringing a nonperishable food item to donate when they come for their shift.  The Houston Food Bank selects a needed or popular item, and for September, they are asking volunteers to bring canned protein, such as tuna or chicken in water, that can be easily placed in Backpack Buddy sacks for food insecure children on weekends. 
 
·         Great American Milk Drive – ongoing in September
Donations through The Great American Milk Drive website, www.milklife.com/give, translate into coupons that families can use to purchase a gallon of milk.  By entering their own zip code while making the donation, donors can ensure that the milk is delivered through the Houston Food Bank.  The Great American Milk Drive is a nationwide effort coordinated by Feeding America, in partnership with regional dairy associations.
 
·         Say Goodnight to Hunger with Omni Hotels
For every stay booked directly on OmniHotels.com, Omni will make a donation to Feeding America that will provide a family of four dinner for an entire week*. Donations from stays at Houston’s two Omni locations will benefit Houston Food Bank. Bookings must be made directly at OmniHotels.com to apply and one donation will be made for each booking transaction. There is no limit to the number of donations that can be made per guest through the program, but only one donation is contributed per booking.  * $1 helps provide 11 meals on behalf of local food banks. For each direct booking on OmniHotels.com, Omni will donate the equivalent of 28 meals.  For the purpose of this campaign, Omni defines a family as 4 individuals.
 
·         Be an Advocate for Hunger!
Food Bank friends can help by communicating with their elected officials on legislative issues related to hunger relief.  Watch the “Advocacy” section on houstonfoodbank.org for specific calls to action.  Within this section on our website those passionate about policy change can find information on hunger and poverty related legislation, and how they can contact their elected officials.  Additionally our newsletter, Change Champions, will be published quarterly summarizing our advocacy efforts.  The 2017 Texas legislative session is coming soon, so please check back regularly to see how to help us help those we serve.
 
How else can the public help?
 
  • “Like” Houston Food Bank on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @HoustonFoodBank, to get ongoing information on events, promotions and announcements. 
  • Update Facebook status to share a hunger fact with friends and colleagues to raise awareness.
  • Volunteer at Houston Food Bank or one of its member agencies.
  • Make a donation!  For every $1 donated to Houston Food Bank, they can provide a person with a full day of meals! 
 
For more information on Houston Food Bank and Hunger Action Month, visit houstonfoodbank.org or call 713-223-3700. 
 
 
About the Houston Food Bank 
The Houston Food Bank is a solution to hunger in times of need.  America’s largest and nationally recognized as Feeding America’s Food Bank of the Year, the Food Bank distributes 79 million nutritious meals through its network of 600 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other hunger relief charities in southeast Texas, feeding 800,000 individuals each year.  Fresh produce, meat and nonperishables are distributed from the warehouse at 535 Portwall, and meals for kids are prepared and distributed from Keegan Center, a 15,000 square-foot industrial kitchen.  Additional community services include nutrition education, school-based programs, food stamp applications and hands-on job training.  Red Barrels offer a convenient way for grocery shoppers to donate nonperishables for their neighbors in need.  The Houston Food Bank, founded in 1982, is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.  Visit us online.  Website: HoustonFoodBank.org;Facebook: facebook.com/HoustonFoodBankTwitter: @HoustonFoodBank; Snapchat: Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/houstonfoodbank
 

Houston: September is Hunger Action Month!  was originally published on theboxhouston.com