Have you ever been to a new restaurant and the waiter asks you the daunting question, "Are you read to order?"

Everything sounds so delicious, that it's almost impossible to make a choice on what you're going to eat.

Should you order the pasta or get the classic cheeseburger? Should you play it safe and just order the chicken tenders? What about the sides? With a whole menu of options though, the point is that you have choices. Lots and lots of great choices.

For millions of people in America, almost half a million right here in South Carolina, a daily meal can often be an impossible choice between food and other critical needs - like medicine, utilities, or childcare. It's not the choice of what to eat. The choice is if they eat.

We're excited to be celebrating Hunger Action Month this September here at Harvest Hope. We, along with Feeding America and our sister food banks throughout the country, are raising awareness around food insecurity and challenging our communities to take action in the fight against hunger.

It is up to all of us to help our neighbors who are forced to make impossible choices.  This September, choose to end hunger.

Here's how you can take action:

Get Educated

How can you fight a problem you know nothing about? That's like trying to fix something with no tools. One of the best ways to educate yourself on hunger is keeping up-to-date with the latest facts and statistics. Visit the Feeding America Map the Meal Gap interactive map to view updated hunger rates and more within each state and county. You can also check out some of our previous blogs such as Fact vs. Fiction or Feeding America's Five Myths About Hunger to help get informed. 

Get Social

Tell others to join the fight to end hunger! Share a Hunger Action Month photo and tell others about the fight to hunger hunger on your social media. You can use the hashtags #HungerActionMonth and #EndHunger to help spread the message. To find some inspiration, visit this Feeding America page to see what people all across the country are doing to help get the word out. 

Volunteer

Volunteering is one of the best ways to make a direct impact here at Harvest Hope! The hours that you put in volunteering can make a huge difference. It's a great way to spend quality time with friends and family while making a positive impact on your community - it can even be a team building exercise for colleagues! Check out the volunteer availability at your local Harvest Hope branch here.

Donate and Fundraise

Donations keep Harvest Hope running - with monetary donations we can expand our operations and meet the increasing service demands. Consider making a one-time or monthly donation to Harvest Hope or your local food pantry. You can also encourage your friends and family to get involved by starting a virtual fundraiser!

Want to take it a step further? Host a Hunger Action Month food drive! Call on members of your community to collect non-perishable food items throughout the month and donate the collected items to Harvest Hope at the end of September. This is a great way to get an office, sports team, or community group involved. 

Go Orange

All month long Harvest Hope will be using orange, the color of hunger relief, to raise awareness - especially on September 23 which is Hunger Action Day! By wearing orange, you can show the world that you're taking action against hunger and encourage those around you to do the same. 

Vote

Voting has a direct influence on how local and federal hunger relief programs are affect. Learn more about how each candidate running for office plans to help fight against food insecurity before heading to the polls this November. It's important to elect officials who you know will fight alongside you when it comes to hunger in our communities and the U.S. This year's election day is Tuesday, November 8, so be sure you are registered to vote. You can also speak up by contacting you local representatives - tell them to take action to help end hunger!

Nobody should be faced with a choice between food and other basic needs, but together we can build a healthy, hunger-free tomorrow!