Governor LePage Declares September Hunger Action Month
Good Shepherd Food-Bank Asking All Mainers to Take Action
With 200,000 Maine residents living at risk of hunger, including 1 in every 4 children, Governor Paul LePage has stepped in, declaring September Hunger Action Month. Good Shepherd Food-Bank is urging all Mainers to heed the Governor’s proclamation and take action against hunger this month.
“Hunger is a serious problem in each and every community throughout Maine,” said Rick Small, president and CEO of Good Shepherd Food-Bank. “And for that reason, it’s up to each and every Mainer to help solve the problem.”
Throughout the month, Feeding America’s nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, including Good Shepherd Food-Bank, is working to engage citizens to take action and help spread the word about how pervasive hunger is in every community.
Nationwide, 50 million Americans suffer from food insecurity. But hunger’s impact is felt by many more than the millions living with food insecurity: hunger impacts child development, health and wellness, education, workforce development – our general welfare as a nation. Maine ranks 9th in the nation in the number of food insecure households; 15 percent of our households are struggling with hunger.
Good Shepherd Food-Bank is asking Mainers to take the “Skip a meal – Feed a neighbor” pledge to raise awareness about hunger. By taking the pledge, you are agreeing to forego one meal on September 28 to make a connection with how it feels to go without food – even for a short period of time. Participants are also asked to consider donating what they would have spent on that meal to help Good Shepherd Food-Bank and its network of partner agencies feed our hungry neighbors throughout the state.
To learn more about the “Skip a meal – Feed a neighbor” pledge, and for many other ways to get involved during Hunger Action Month, visit MaineHungerAction.org.
The Food-Bank has also engaged many corporate and nonprofit partners in Hunger Action Month. Businesses and organizations such as National Semiconductor, Oakhurst Dairy, Oxford Networks, Maine Magazine, and Share Our Strength are engaging employees and helping to spread the word throughout the month.
“Oakhurst is ready to participate in Hunger Action Month and help raise awareness about this important issue facing our state,” said Bill Bennett, CEO of Oakhurst Dairy. “I plan to personally take the Skip a meal – Feed a neighbor pledge and will encourage many of our employees to join me. It’s a small act that we can all take in order to better understand what many in our state are faced with each day.”
For statistics on poverty and hunger, media inquiries, photos, or interview requests, please contact Clara McConnell at (207) 782-3554 or cmcconnell@gsfb.org.
About Good Shepherd Food-Bank
The largest hunger relief organization in Maine, Good Shepherd Food-Bank provides for those at risk of hunger by soliciting and distributing surplus food to more than 600 partner agencies. Since 1981, the Food-Bank has partnered with individuals, businesses and farmers to alleviate hunger and build community relationships. In 2010 the Food-Bank distributed 12 million pounds of food to families and individuals throughout Maine. Web site: www.gsfb.org. Phone: (207) 782-3554. Facebook: www.facebook.com/feedingmaine Twitter: www.twitter.com/feedingmaine
About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.
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