Last year, 53 million Americans turned to food banks and pantries to put meals on their tables. In the last month, 90% of Feeding America food banks have seen a sustained or increased need.
Together with Feeding America, we have identified 32 food banks who are delivering more meals to those in need, with less resources. Each of those food banks will receive $250,000 in funding for immediate relief, and to strengthen their tech infrastructure for long-term resilience.
After a drop during the pandemic, searches for "volunteer opportunities near me" have doubled – surpassing pre-COVID levels. And searches for "where to donate food near me" have also increased by 2.5x.
This holiday season, join us and volunteer at your local Feeding America® food bank.
Get curious about the stories and the numbers in your own neighborhood, city, state and country. There are amazing resources online about the state of food insecurity and surplus food that could be recovered for hunger-relief.
- Take a look at this National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health
- Explore cross-sectional data in your city, state and country at Feeding America Data Commons
- Learn more about food waste and surplus recovery research through ReFED’s insights engine
According to the USDA, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply in the US, and according to the EPA, food is the largest category of material placed in municipal landfills, where it emits methane, a greenhouse gas 20-30X worse for the environment than carbon dioxide.
- Learn about your own food waste carbon footprint with Your Plan Your Planet
- Plan your meals, store your food properly, reuse your leftovers, and compost food scraps to ensure they don’t end up in landfills.
- Watch Wasted! The Story of Food Waste with your family and friends
Get involved in your local community organizations that are already serving your neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity. They need your help! Feeding America and other hunger-relief organizations rely on the help of millions of volunteers every year and donations of food and money.
- Volunteer for a packing, cooking or cleaning shift at your local food bank and pantry
- Ask your employer if you can organize a food bank volunteering event for your company
- Volunteer to help delivery food with organizations like Meals on Wheels
- Give money and food to any hunger-relief organization of your choice
- Find and contribute food to your local community “freedge,” or “mini pantry,” or consider starting one of your own.
- Growers and farmers can donate extra food with Ample Harvest or Feeding America’s Meal Connect program
Your own voice is powerful. If you care about reducing food insecurity, speak up - at the dinner table, in your lunch room, and with your friends. Use your voice to help organize events and activities in support of ‘shortening the line’.
- Use the Food Waste Toolkit for the Office to start a conversation with your employer about reduction practices
- Learn more about bipartisan efforts being done to help solve for food insecurity, and watch the recent White House convening on national nutrition and health
