September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide movement dedicated to raising awareness of hunger and inspiring communities to take action to ensure everyone has reliable access to nutritious food. Throughout the month, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank will join food banks, hunger-relief organizations, community partners and advocates across the country in shining a light on food insecurity and the work being done to address it.
This year during Hunger Action Month, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is embracing the theme “Nourishing Neighbors Together,” highlighting the collective power of communities, partners, volunteers, donors and advocates to create a Central Pennsylvania where everyone has access to the food they need to thrive.
“Ending hunger takes all of us,” said Shila Ulrich, CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. “Hunger Action Month is an opportunity to bring our communities together, raise awareness about the realities of food insecurity and remind our neighbors that there are meaningful ways they can take action. Whether advocating for policies that strengthen food access, volunteering, donating or simply starting a conversation about hunger, every action matters.”
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank serves 27 counties through a network of more than 1,100 local partners. Over 278,000 people receive help monthly through the Food Bank’s hunger-relief network, underscoring the continued need for reliable access to nutritious food across the region.
Throughout the month, the Food Bank will participate in community events, county proclamations, outreach activities and advocacy efforts across the 27 counties it serves. These events will provide opportunities for community members to learn more about hunger in their communities, connect with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and take action.
County Hunger Action Month Proclamations
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank will join local leaders and community partners throughout September to recognize Hunger Action Month through county proclamations including:
- Sept. 1: Centre County, 10-11 a.m., 420 Holmes St, Bellefonte
- Sept. 2: York County, 10-11 a.m., 28 E Market St, York
- Sept. 3: Lebanon County, 9:45-10:15 a.m., 400 South 8th St, Lebanon; Columbia County, 10-11 a.m., 700 Sawmill Rd, Bloomsburg
- Sept. 8: Tioga County, 10-10:30 a.m., 118 Main St, Wellsboro; Montour County, 11-11:30 a.m., 435 E. Front St, Danville
- Sept. 9: Dauphin County, 10-11 a.m., 2 South 2nd St, 4th Floor, Harrisburg; Cumberland County, 1:30-2:30 p.m., 1 Courthouse Square, Carlisle
- Sept. 10: Lycoming County, 10-11 a.m., 48 West 3rd St, Williamsport
- Sept. 16: Adams County, 9-10 a.m., 117 Baltimore St, Gettysburg
- Sept. 24: Clinton County, 10-10:30 a.m., 2 Piper Way, Lock Haven
Community Events and Outreach
The Food Bank will also connect with neighbors at community events throughout the month including:
- Sept. 4: First Friday events in Downtown Williamsport, York and Lancaster
- Sept. 5: Williamsport Growers Market, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Williamsport
- Sept. 10: Pack-a-Thon at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank in Harrisburg, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Harrisburg
- Sept. 18: Hollidaysburg Third in the Burg, 5-8 p.m., Downtown Hollidaysburg
- Sept. 18-20: The Pennsylvania State Capitol will be illuminated orange in recognition of Hunger Action Month
- Sept. 23: Pack-a-Thon at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank in Williamsport, 6-8 p.m., Williamsport
Hunger Awareness Press Conference in Harrisburg — Sept. 22
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank will host a press conference at its Harrisburg facility at 3908 Corey Road in Harrisburg to call attention to food insecurity and the need for community action. The event will bring together community leaders and hunger-relief advocates to highlight the realities facing neighbors experiencing food insecurity, the importance of ensuring access to nutritious food, and ways communities can work together to strengthen food access.
Closing Out Hunger Action Month — Sept. 30
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank will close out Hunger Action Month on Wednesday, Sept. 30, with activities across the region, including a food agency partner meeting in Williamsport and a Hunger Caucus press conference and the closing of the Hunger Garden in Harrisburg. The closing will mark the end of the Hunger Garden’s season and bring community partners and advocates together to continue the conversation about hunger, food access, and the importance of nourishing neighbors year-round.
While Hunger Action Month is a dedicated time to focus attention on hunger, the need and the work to address it continues throughout the year. The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank encourages community members to take action by volunteering, supporting hunger-relief efforts, learning more about food insecurity, sharing information with their networks and signing up for advocacy alerts on the Food Bank’s website to stay informed about policies that impact food access.
“Food insecurity is not an issue that any one organization can solve alone,” Ulrich said. “It takes neighbors helping neighbors, strong community partnerships and a commitment to making sure everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy, nourished life. This September, we invite everyone to join us in nourishing our neighbors together.”
