National Hunger Awareness Day
The face of hunger will surprise you.
From June 1, 2007 to June 6, 2007, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts joined hundreds of food banks nationwide by helping to organize National Hunger Awareness events. Sponsored by America’s Second Harvest, National Hunger Awareness Day (officially, June 5) helped us recognize the more than 38 million Americans across our nation who live each day on the brink of hunger.
The theme for 2007 is: The Face of Hunger Will Surprise You. Hunger affects working families who are forced to make choices between food and basic necessities like heat, medicine or rent. It strikes people with sudden illness or new responsibility to care for an additional family member. It does not discriminate against age, race, gender or ethnicity.
The Food Bank is most grateful for all the help we received in support of National Hunger Awareness Week organizing. In addition to the four events listed below, we tabled at The Food Bank Farm, supported worship services and food drives throughout our region and furthered two policy initiatives.
National Hunger Awareness Week 2007 Calendar of Events
Sunday, June 3rd, Haydenville Congregational Church
Community members gathered for an Ecumenical Service featuring local faith leaders, live music, testimonies from those most affected by hunger and those who serve them. Said Dr. Rev. Andrea Ayvazian, Senior Minister of the Congregation, "We feel that it is time to take an issue that many Christians think of as affecting people "somewhere else, far away" and bring it home to the reality of hunger in Western Massachusetts. As a caring congregation that thinks globally and acts locally, we want to learn more about hunger and be part of the solution that tackles this serious, ongoing problem in our own community and in the wider world."
Monday, June 4th, Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield
Open Pantry Community Services hosted an evening program with keynote speaker AJ Juarez, Organizer with the Massachusetts Public Health Association. Participants included Gloria Wilson, Director, Mason Square Senior Center; Frank Tate, Director of Nutrition Education at the Early Childhood Center; and Earnestine Johnson from the Bay Area Neighborhood Council. The discussion was dedicated to better understanding the face of hunger in western Massachusetts and taking action, with a special focus on Target:Hunger Springfield.
Tuesday, June 5th, Greenfield Town Common
Organizers with the Center for Self Reliance, Franklin County Interfaith Council and Franklin County Community Meal organized a vigil and speak out featured elected officials, hunger-relief agency representatives and those most affected by hunger in western Massachusetts. "Like most programs that provide free meals for the needy or that run food pantries in our community, the Franklin County Community Meals Program is considered an emergency food provider," said Amy Clarke, Executive Director of Franklin County Community Meals. "Unfortunately, we have been in the emergency food business for 23 years now, and last year fed more people than ever before. The 'emergency' only seems to be getting worse."
Wednesday, June 6th, St. Joseph's Church in Pittsfield
The Berkshire Community Action Council hosted an evening program with keynote speaker Jim Cieslar, CEO of the Berkshire United Way, and participants from the Berkshire Community Action Council, REACH Community Health Foundation, and United Veterans of America and Veteran's Education Project.
If you would like to take part in organizing for National Hunger Awareness Day 2008! please contact Jo Comerford, joc@foodbankwma.org / 413.247.0312 x 118.