From ‘Hunger Action Month’ to a Full Season of Action

by Susannah Morgan, CEO

Earlier this month, I turned to you — our wonderful supporter community — to ask for you help.

As we all know too well, families throughout Oregon and across the country are suffering in the wake of COVID-19. This pandemic is getting worse, the economic tool is snowballing, and hunger is touching more and more lives each day.

We need federal action now on coronavirus relief — and hundreds of you have already answered the call and urged congressional leaders to act. Thanks to your advocacy alongside thousands of allies, the US House of Representatives passed a bold stimulus package that includes critical funding for anti-hunger efforts. But instead of passing this critical legislation, Senate leaders sent everyone home for an end-of-summer break.

In the short term, we need to keep up the pressure on senate leaders. Our senators, Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, need our support as they push to get this vital legislation passed.

But there’s a long-term lesson here as well: that we can’t afford to slow down in our effort to end hunger and its root causes — and we can’t take anything for granted.

That’s where Hunger Action Month comes in. Each September, anti-hunger activists across the country bring focused attention to the impact of food insecurity in our communities.

In just a few days, we’ll kick off our own effort here in the Pacific Northwest. We’ll shine a spotlight on the policies, systems and decision-makers that drive hunger and poverty. And we’ll offer plenty of ways for our broader community to get involved in Hunger Action Month, the November Elections and beyond.

You can get started early by signing our pledge to #VoteOutHunger today. We’ll follow up over the coming weeks with information, resources and ways to share with friends and neighbors.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all you’ve done to make your voices heard so far. And incredible appreciation for all that I know we’ll do, together, to end hunger for good.