6 Simple Ways to Help Fight Hunger
Did you know 1 in 8 people in America struggles with hunger?
As much as I write about food choices, I often forget just how many I have and how lucky I am to have them. While I'm worried about fitting grocery shopping into my day their are millions of people worrying about fitting groceries into their budget or worse yet just going hungry.
That's why I'm thankful for days like World Food Day, to remind me that I can have a place in the fight against hunger and if we work together we can end hunger by 2030!
I know it is easy to get overwhelmed by the idea of eliminating hunger throughout the world but here are 6 simple things you can do TODAY to help fight hunger.
Donate to Feeding America
"The Feeding America network is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, working to connect people with food and end hunger. " Feeding America.
That means when you donate directly to Feeding America you are providing meals directly to other Americans struggling with hunger.
$1=10 meals, so even if you can only give a little you can still have a big impact.
Go Grocery Shopping (Yes, Really)
I know this one sounds a little counter intuitive but nearly every grocery store has a program to give back in the fight against hunger. Many stores work with Feeding America or local food banks to donate money and food items.
Here are just a few of the stores I found with charitable programs dedicated to fighting hunger. I'm sure there are many more so if you know of a store that gives back let me know and I'll add them to my list.
Support Brands that Give BAck
There are so many companies that you can support such as the numerous grocery stores with charitable programs, websites like The Traveling Parent who donates a percentage of their profits to fight child hunger, and all of the brands that have joined the movement to end hunger. I couldn't even list them all if I tried but here are a few of my favorites.
Giving back with a one to one program is an easy way to see that your purchase is providing meals for someone suffering from hunger. So if you buy a product from these brands they will donate a meal to some one in need; Two Degrees bars, Love With Food, This Bar Saves Lives, Soulful Project, and many more.
Some other brands that give through local food banks or smaller charities include Annie's Homegrown, Finnegan's Beer (a registered 501c3 itself), Lotus Food, Nature Box, Alter Eco, Dave's Killer Bread, Lara Bar, and Nature's Bakery.
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 26: Actress Haylie Duff (L) and Larabar founder, Lara Merriken present Feeding America with a $150,000 donation on January 26, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Larabar)
Stop Wasting Food
I know it doesn't seem like throwing food away will directly help in the fight to end hunger but it does make a difference. Every year 70 billion tons of food (including 20 billion pounds of produce) goes to waste and most of that waste inevitably goes to landfills. The truth is the health of environment affects our ability to produce food and feed people. That is why it is equally important to respect the relationship between or environment and our food.
Courtesy of Imperfect Produce
You can help reduce food waste by only buying what you need and storing food so it doesn't go bad. You can also support companies like Imperfect Produce which is trying to reduce that waste by taking the produce that would not be considered "pretty enough" to be sold at a grocery store and delivering it to your door instead.
Volunteer at a Local Food Bank
This is probably the most difficult idea on the list because quite simply, we are all pressed for time. But it is also the most important and impactful way to give back.
Not only are you able to give your time to help people in your community but it is impossible to ignore that hunger truly exists in our country when you see it with your own eyes.
Find a local food bank and ask what you can do to help. Feeding America even has a form you can complete to ask your member of Congress to volunteer!
Get Social and Spread Awareness
Days like World Food Day are just one day where we can bring awareness to the issue of food insecurity and joining in the movement on social media is a simple way to help. The more awareness we have the more ability we have to fight hunger.
As great as that is, it is even cooler that companies like Brandless offer ways to give back using social media. If you use the hashtag #givingisbrandless (on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook) they will donate 3 meals to Feeding America.
If you use the code LOVE3 Brandless will donate 3 extra meals to Feeding America and you get free shipping on your order.
The meal delivery company Freshly also encourages you to use the tag #freshlygives to spread the word about their Buy One Give One meal program.
You can participate in the fight against hunger in any of the other ways I've listed in this article and then double down by posting it to social media. Even if you only inspire one other person to make a change or donate, you'll have doubled your impact. How's that for a day's work?