To contribute to my weekly food drive, please email anyasengupta1022@gmail.com
September is Hunger Action Month. This initiative was started by the organization Feeding America in 2008, to spread awareness on hunger, urging the American public to take action. This year's theme is, “We can end hunger one helping at a time.” Hunger Action Day is September 10th, a day when every American should pause and make a commitment to do their part to end food insecurity in America. According to a study conducted by Feeding America, 54 million people may be food insecure in 2020, an alarming figure as coronavirus has resulted in widespread job losses. 4 in 10 people have to rely on food banks in 2020, as COVID-19 continues to claim more jobs and lives. Wildfires have also displaced several families across the West Coast and overwhelmed our communities. However, there are many who don't qualify for federal nutrition programs because their incomes are slightly above the poverty line. If you are qualified to vote, help protect hunger relief programs by making your vote count this election.
There are many approaches and ways you can make an impact. Since 1995, American home growers have donated over 20 million pounds of produce. All this has been possible without any bureaucratic actions, simply through social campaigns with people helping the community. This September, I decided to visit my local food bank multiple times. If you have been reading my blogs you are aware that my family and I grow most of our own vegetables in our suburban backyard from fall 2019. We added a front yard vegetable garden as well and our gardens have been going wild. We have more zucchini, cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes than we can possibly cook, preserve, and store away. We had surplus produce over the last 6 months that we have been giving away to the local food pantry at Valley Bible Church, Pleasanton. We have reached out to local Tri-Valley residents through neighborhood social networks and the response has been very warm. My weekly food drive has gone viral with generous residents sending me emails every week to arrange porch pickups. Local food pantries are a significant way of connecting home-based food growers to food banks, soup kitchens, and service organizations that accept fresh produce. Make sure to harvest the day of your donation, to keep it fresh and wash it thoroughly. Find a local food bank today.
Generous residents Lindsay and Nolan contributed 45 bags of rice to my drive.
With Ms Kim Chew who manages the food pantry at VBC, Pleasanton. Most of the food you can see here is gone in just a few days.
Just one person’s drive can make a difference !
Our Vice Mayor, Arun Goel, strongly believes that the youth is the voice for change towards a better future in Dublin. I recently met with him to spread awareness about food insecurity and the small steps we can all take to make our cities more sustainable. Mr. Goel is running for Mayor of Dublin and his goal is to put the city on a more sustainable path for the future by adopting several green initiatives that minimizes the harmful effects to our immediate environment. Make sure to do your part to end food hunger and tag @AnyaSengupta, @ArunGoelDublin @FeedingAmerica on Twitter with your stories. Email me at anyasengupta1022@gmail.com to arrange porch pickups for my weekly drives. If you are not close by, and wish to contribute, I could purchase food on behalf of you.
