Throughout September, Philabundance is recognizing Hunger Action Month, which is an annual nationwide campaign encouraging individuals to take action and end hunger for good in America.  

This year’s campaign, The Full Effect, highlights the impact of food on people’s lives and shows how a meal goes beyond solely nourishing our bodies. Watch the short video Feeding America released in June: The Full Effect PSA.  

We know that hunger exists in every ZIP code, impacting diverse demographics across the U.S. People are working hard to provide for themselves and their families, yet Feeding America estimates approximately 1 in 6 people turned to charitable food assistance for additional support in 2022. In particular, communities of color and rural communities are more likely to feel the effects of financial instability. When faced with challenging times, food is often the first thing people eliminate to make ends meet.  

For many, a daily meal is a simple choice of what to eat and when. For people facing hunger, that daily meal poses a very different type of choice. It’s often an impossible choice between purchasing food and other crucial needs, such as paying for electricity, childcare, or medicine. 

Essentially, hunger’s toll can be life-altering, even life-threatening, as healthy bodies and minds require nutritious foods at every age.  

For instance, when someone is sick, having to choose between food and treatment can lead to serious complications. For food-insecure adults living with diabetes, the choice between food and controlling the disease can even lead to complications like kidney disease, eye disease, and nerve damage. Food insecurity can lead to Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity. 

Family members in food-insecure households are also more likely to struggle with psychological and behavioral health issues. The impact of food insecurity on children is particularly devastating. Feeling hungry can have serious consequences for a child’s physical and mental health, achievements in school, and future economic success. Food insecurity may also lead to delayed development in young children, risk of chronic illnesses such as asthma and anemia, and behavior problems like hyperactivity, anxiety, and aggression in school-age children. 

To that end, Philabundance is 100% committed to ensuring our communities in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey can put healthy food on the table every day. We pride ourselves on providing culturally responsible foods with high nutritional value, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean proteins.   

We can’t do it alone.  

We hope that you will join us in the fight against hunger by donating, hosting a food drive, volunteering, and advocating. One dollar, one can, one voice can have tremendous effects in ending hunger for good. We thank you in advance for your continued support of our mission!