September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about hunger in America and inspire action. Orange is the color that represents this effort, so consider wearing orange and helping to involve others in making a difference.

Tens of millions of people still don’t have the food they need to thrive. In 2022, one in six people in the U.S. — 49 million people — relied on food assistance from charities like Feeding America. I suspect that number may be growing.

My message is twofold — some information if you are food insecure and ideas for those who are interested in helping.

If you are a member of the community in need of assistance, you are welcome to attend a free community meal. They are held twice a month in the Whitehall and Coplay communities and are listed on the website whitehallcoplayhungerinitiative.org.

Reach out to your local food pantry to receive food. You will need to provide some information about where you live, your income and the number of people in your family, and you will be assisted by a friendly volunteer to help you make food selections based on the size of your household.

Previously known as “food stamps,” Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest anti-hunger program in America, which provides monthly funds to buy groceries from stores and farmers markets. Second Harvest Food Bank or the SNAP office can help you find out if you are eligible for assistance and help you fill out an application.

There are some ways we all can contribute to making a difference.

Get to know your local food bank or pantry. What’s the difference? The food bank is the warehouse (Second Harvest) that helps supply the local pantry or soup kitchen where people in the community can go to receive free food.

More than half of all soup kitchens, food pantries and meal programs in the Feeding America network rely on volunteer support. Spending a few hours each month volunteering can make a difference for food banks and the families they serve.

Our WCHI Food Pantry is always welcoming volunteers to help with weekly tasks and monthly distributions. Second Harvest has information on its webpage, shfblv.org, for those who would like to volunteer there. There are monthly opportunities to help pack food boxes for veterans and military families and senior citizens or to help sort donations before they reach your neighbors in need.

Organize a food drive. Contact your local pantry to see what items are most needed. Businesses, youth groups and faith-based organizations can make a big difference because a few small individual donations will add up when many people pull together.

Make a donation of nonperishable food. Use the opportunities offered through grocery store sales, promotions, coupons or freebies to donate your extras.

Share your extra garden vegetables with neighbors in need or allow the pantry to offer them for you. WCHI accepts donations Mondays-Fridays during business hours in the lobby at Re/Max Unlimited, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall.

Make a financial contribution to your local pantry or Second Harvest.

Support a strong farm bill. Tell Congress to prioritize passing a strong farm bill to improve and protect central nutrition programs like SNAP and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

Assist your neighbors. You may know someone who would appreciate a ride to the pantry or to a local community meal.

Follow us on social media to stay informed. Instagram accounts are whitehallcoplayhungerint, secondharvestlv and feedingpa.

“Every action, big or small, is one step closer to an America where no one is hungry,” the Feeding America website states. “When people are fed, futures are nourished, and we can all reach our full potential.”

Editor’s note: This column was written by Jenn Dietz, and information comes from FeedingPennsylvania.org.