30 Ways in 30 Days
To Fight Hunger During Hunger Action Month

September is Hunger Action Month across America. Whether you are a newcomer to the issue of domestic hunger or you have already been involved, you’ll find some great suggestions here for providing hunger relief. If you act on just one, or attempt all 30, you can make a difference!
For more information, call The Idaho Foodbank. In Boise – 336-9643, in Pocatello – 233-8811, in Lewiston – 746-2288

1. Donate produce from your garden or fruit trees to the Grow a Row program at The Idaho Foodbank.

2. In Boise, plan now to participate in The Hunger Bowl – The First Bowl of the Year. Bring canned food to the BSU vs. Hawaii game on Oct. 17 and watch The Idaho Foodbank web site for more details about the month-long campaign – http://www.idahofoodboank.org/. Sponsors include Boise State University, A-1 Plumbing, Peak Broadcasting, Tates Rents, the Nampa Chamber of Commerce, the Boise Metro Chamber and Mercy Medical Center.

3. Pocatello, hold a fundraiser (large or small) or donate to help us open our beautiful new facility at 555 S. First Avenue. The grand opening is Oct. 9.

4. Create a video about hunger in your community, involve the Foodbank and post it on YouTube.

5. Call the Foodbank to find out the many things you can do as a volunteer in the fight against hunger in Idaho.

6. Invite friends to a “virtual lunch.” Estimate the cost and donate that amount to The Idaho Foodbank.

7. Attempt to provide three healthy meals using only the average daily Food Stamp amount of $3 per day per person.

8. Visit http://www.idahofoodbank.org/ to learn more about the Foodbank, its many programs, hunger in Idaho and how you can help.

9. Take your children to the library and check out Fly Away Home, Uncle Willy’s Soup Kitchen or another children’s book featuring the theme of hunger.

10 . Download Phil Vassar’s new version of his song “Prayer for a Common Man,” rewritten for Hunger Action Month. Vassar is the official spokesperson for Hunger Action Month and is using tour dates in September to promote his involvement. The song will be available Tuesday, Sept. 9 exclusively on the online downloading site Rhapsody (www.rhapsody.com). A portion of the proceeds will benefit Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network) through the end of the year. You can also call your favorite country station and ask them to play the song.

11. Hold a food drive in your school, work, neighborhood or faith community.

12. If your grocery store has a special campaign such as “Buy One Get One Free,” give the free item to The Idaho Foodbank.

13. Energize your book group around a book that focuses on the issues of hunger and poverty. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich is a good start.

14. Do your Eagle Scout project or public service project with the Foodbank.

15. Watch “Sunday Night Football” on NBC. Really. NBC’s highly-successful Sunday Night Football program will feature Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network) as its charity of choice throughout the season. John Madden and Al Michaels will mention the Feeding America network during the broadcasts and encourage viewers to support their local food banks. Madden will join country music artist Faith Hill for a series of NBC’s “The More You Know” public service announcements. Those spots will air during “Sunday Night Football” and elsewhere, and will focus on the issue of domestic hunger. The first game is Thursday, Sept. 4, Washington Redskins at New York Giants.

16. Help distribute food at a food pantry in your neighborhood.

17. Invite friends and family to a potluck where everyone brings their favorite family recipe and shares stories about the meaning of food in their lives. Ask them to bring a financial donation for the Foodbank.

18. Become a monthly donor to The Idaho Foodbank and benefit 200 smaller non-profits across the state that can’t afford to support a large warehouse and several trucks.

19. Donate a grocery store gift card to your local food pantry or the Foodbank so they can provide more for those they serve.

20. Learn about this year’s CROP Walk, which will support the Foodbank, and plan now to build a team for the event in October. In Boise, contact Ted Wimer at teddy6w@peoplepc.com. If there is no CROP Walk near you, help start one. See http://cwscrop.org/pacificnorthwest/ for information.

21. Shop for your weekly groceries using only half the dollar amount you would normally spend, then donate the other half to The Idaho Foodbank or match your grocery bill with a donation.

22. Do a report at your school, work or faith group about hunger and poverty in Idaho by checking The Idaho Foodbank web site statistics page: http://www.idahofoodbank.org/PDF%20Files/Hunger_Statistics_Idaho.pdf

23. Become an advocate for hunger and poverty relief. Sign up to receive the email newsletter, Idaho Foodbytes, from the Foodbank. Contact David Proctor at dproctor@idahofoodbank.org.

24. Organize a school food drive to support the Foodbank’s BackPack for Kids program.

25. Host a group to watch the movie 30 Days on Minimum Wage at your home, and have a discussion afterwards.

26. Pick the extra fruit from your trees and donate it to the Foodbank or your local food pantry.

27. Donate a gas card to the Foodbank to help its Mobile Pantry program deliver food to underserved communities.

28. In Boise, start planning to make and donate ceramic bowls to the Empty Bowls fundraiser, which will take place the day after Thanksgiving at the Grove plaza. It’s a great family, school or faith group activity.

29. Bring your teenagers to sort food with you at the Foodbank and let them see how the food donation and distribution system works.

30. Plan now for the holiday season by organizing a “Take Your Turkey to Work” drive at your place of business, school or faith community.