National Hunger Awareness Day is June 3

For the third year consecutive year, communities nationwide will recognize National Hunger Awareness Day through a variety of events.

School nutrition professionals provide over 22 million nutritious meals each school day to children from families in need. School lunches often ensure the only meal some children may receive that day. As part of a national community of organizations, individuals and community groups that tackle hunger in America, school nutrition professionals can help raise awareness and lead the drive toward sustainable solutions to hunger.

For too many Americans it is common to not know how or where, or even when, they will eat their next meal. Tough economic times are leading many families into the free and reduced-price categories of the National School Lunch Program as well as to soup kitchens, pantries and shelters. It's time to pay greater attention on the national level to this growing problem and support its solutions.

Get Involved
National Hunger Awareness Day, the first Thursday in June, is a public awareness initiative of America’s Second Harvest to help inform individuals, communities, corporations and policymakers that hunger is a severe domestic issue but a solvable one as well. On June 3, 2004, thousands of hunger-relief advocates and volunteers along with the entire America's Second Harvest network of food banks, food-rescue organizations and their agencies will participate in an activity or outreach that raises awareness about hunger and the acute situation that too many Americans face. The time has come to create a hunger-free America. Here are some ideas:

• Looking up local National Hunger Awareness Day events in your community and helping publicize them or participating in other ways.
• Holding a food drive in your school or district to help stock food banks for the summer months.
• Promote and launch your Summer Food Service Program on National Hunger Awareness Day. The Day coincides with Summer Food Service Program Week as well.
• Educating local, state and national leaders about hunger in your community. Send a letter, e-mail or fax to elected officials asking them to support policy proposals that address hunger. This would include eliminating the reduced-price meal category, allowing more children to qualify for free school meals.
• Writing a letter to your local newspaper expressing your unique viewpoint on hunger in your community and how solutions can be reached.
• Observing the day in your own way and share it with others.

This coordinated activity in every community helps bring form to the collective voice - a voice that must be heard in order to reach our goal of creating a hunger-free America. Together this groundswell of activity and messaging has the power to influence opinion and inspire behavior. Individuals may make donations they had never planned on making, learn how to volunteer their time or simply spread the word. Food companies may increase product donations or find other ways to get involved. Policy makers can help enact legislation that will ultimately help the people you serve.

For more information about National Hunger Awareness Day, please visit the American School Food Service Association's Web site, or visit the National Hunger Awareness Day Web site.