Food banks urge Congress to support 2023 Farm Bill

This September the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, together with 200 Feeding America food banks nationwide, will mobilize across all 50 states to raise awareness about hunger.

Locally, the food bank, in conjunction with the Ohio Association of Food Banks, Feeding America and food banks across the country, is encouraging Congress to support the 2023 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill governs nutrition and agriculture programs that work in tandem with food banks to fight food insecurity. Inflation and reduced food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program continue to cause an increase in need for food by local families.

“There are more visits to the food bank’s hunger-relief network now than during the pandemic,” said Dan Flowers, food bank president and CEO. “We’re doing all we can to feed our neighbors facing hunger, but the current crisis our food bank and food banks across the country are facing is unprecedented. Our inventory cannot keep pace with the current demand. Food is leaving our warehouse quicker than it’s coming in.”

The food bank and its network of food pantries have experienced a 31% increase in people seeking help. Of individuals visiting pantries, 20% of the families were new, meaning they’ve never visited a pantry before.

The food bank’s Keith D. Monda Family Food Pantry in the Stark County campus is experiencing the increase in need firsthand. The pantry has seen a 162% increase in visits by neighbors seeking help, and pounds of food distributed is up 160%.

Hunger Action Month activities

—Encourage Congress to support the 2023 Farm Bill, which increases TEFAP funding and supports SNAP. Contact your representatives at www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/HAM.

—Hunger Action Day: wear orange, the color of hunger relief, on Sept. 15 and snap a photo to share on social media using #acrfb and #HungerActionMonth.

—Visit www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/volunteer to learn about volunteer opportunities.

—Make a donation: $1 can help provide enough food for four meals.

Visit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank at www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/HAM or call 330-535-6900.