In a country as affluent as Canada, hunger is unacceptable. Yet, close to 900,000 Canadians will visit a food bank for assistance this month alone. Of those, 38 per cent will be children or youth. Hunger is often a hidden issue, and we are working to change that fact with Hunger Awareness Week, which we’ve expanded from previous years’ Hunger Awareness Day.
One day is simply no longer sufficient to call Canada to action on this pressing issue. In Penticton and the surrounding area the rise in need is represented by an increase of 800 individuals in 2011 needing assistance from The Salvation Army Community Food Bank. More than 40 new individuals were assisted this past month alone. On average, over 1,000 people per month find it necessary to access our food bank services.
During Hunger Awareness Week, May 7-11, we encourage Canadians to Give it Up for Hunger.
Give It Up — Challenge yourself to give up your lunches or a food staple for the week.
Give a Shout — Share your experience by going online to show your support via Facebook, Twitter or blogging, or wear a Hunger Awareness Week sticker.
Give It Out — Donate food, funds or your time to your local food bank.
Empty brown paper lunch bags with the Hunger Awareness logo will be available at key locations throughout Penticton. Individuals are encouraged to fill the bag with healthy food items for The Salvation Army Community Food Bank. Together, we can work to raise awareness of the solvable issue of hunger and find solutions to reduce hunger in communities across Canada.
By learning about hunger and experiencing it personally, we can all change the way we think about hunger and activate the changes needed to reduce it.
We encourage everyone to take part. Visit www.hungerawareness.ca for more information.
Barb Stewart
program co-ordinator
The Salvation Army