On any given day, more than 1 million people in southeast Texas are food insecure, meaning they do not have reliable access to nutritious food to fuel a regularly healthy lifestyle. Through its network of more than 1,500 community partners, the Houston Food Bank addresses food insecurity by providing food assistance across its 18-county coverage area in southeast Texas. But the food bank doesn’t do it alone – they rely on the help and action of others to complete their mission.
To bring awareness to the important issue of hunger and with the ultimate goal of a world that doesn’t need food banks, the Houston Food Bank and hunger relief agencies across the country have designated September as Hunger Action Month. And Friday, September 23 is Hunger Action Day® 2022.
“There is a quote that I particularly like that I think is powerful in its simplicity: ‘Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something,’” says Brian Greene, president/CEO of the Houston Food Bank. “It speaks to the importance of what all individuals can do with their time, talent and resources.
We can all play a role in helping reduce food insecurity – advocate, educate, volunteer or donate – all year round and especially during Hunger Action Month. When we band together as a community, each doing our part to put in a piece of the puzzle, big changes can happen as we work towards a world that no longer needs food banks.”
Special activities and events the Houston Food Bank has planned for Hunger Action Month are:
- September 14 and September 28 – As part of United Airlines’ “September of Service,” United employees and their family and friends will volunteer will at the food bank’s East Branch location (535 Portwall) – two shifts on each date, 8am – noon and 1-4pm), for which they are recruiting up to 50 volunteers per shift.
. - Voter Registration Days – September 10 & 20
Houston Food Bank is partnering with League of Women Voters to host two voter registration days at our 535 Portwall location. On September 10 and 20, volunteers and staff will have the opportunity to register to vote and receive a free copy of LWV’s non-partisan voter guide.
. - September 17, 8am to noon – “Baylor – Matthew Carter Service Day” (50 volunteers)
Baylor holds a yearly volunteering event called Matthew Carter Service Day in which members of the incoming class work with local nonprofit organizations to get to know their new community.
. - September 23 – Hunger Action Day
To celebrate Hunger Action Day, special friends of the Houston Food Bank will triple gifts made online, up to $55,000, on Friday, September 23.
. - Houston Food Bank will have almost 500 groups and more than 3,500 volunteers during Hunger Action Month, from corporations to faith-based groups to families, businesses, schools, alumni groups and more. Volunteers will work cleaning, sorting, boxing and/or bagging products for distribution to clients who reside in our 18-county service area. Among some of the groups currently scheduled are:
- Bank of America (20 & 25 volunteers) – September 3 & 24, 1-4pm
- Amazon “Global Volunteering Month” (40 volunteers) – September 7 & 9, 8am – 12pm
- Houston Methodist Hospital (6 groups with 146 total volunteers) – 10th Anniversary for “I Care In Action” initiative this year with multiple volunteer opportunities throughout September (this includes the September 14 “board planning committee meeting” at Portwall with a “special” volunteer experience in our Community Resource Center
- Chevron (4 groups with 97 total volunteers) – September 15, 8am – noon & 1– 4pm; September 21, 8am – noon; and September 28, 8 am to noon
- Mitsui & Co (20 volunteers) – September 16, 1 – 4pm
- TotalEnergies – Polymers Group (9 volunteers) – September 16, 1 – 4pm
- Houston Astros (60 total volunteers) – September 15, 8am – noon “Roberto Clemente Day” Honoring Roberto Clemente’s legacy through a service project; and September 17, 8am – noon
- Kroger/Empire Foods “Groceries For Good” (25 volunteers) – September 15, 8am – noon
- Comcast Communications “Women’s Network” (29 volunteers) – September 17, 8am – noon
- Gordon Food Service (60 volunteers) – September 17, 8am – noon
- Bhalla Family “HungerMitao — Orion Cares” (40 volunteers) – September 17, 8am – noon
- Phillips66 “New Hire Network” participating in HFB’s Hunger Game (30 volunteers) – September 21, 1– 4pm
- H-E-B (35 total volunteers) September 22, 8am – noon; and September 23, 1– 4pm
- Kosmos Energy (15 volunteers) – September 22, 1– 4pm
- Halliburton (50 total volunteers) – Hunger Action Day, September 23 1-4pm at North Branch; and September 28, 6– 9pm at East Branch
- Sempra Infrastructure (50 volunteers) – September 24, 8am – noon
- Sysco (60 total volunteers) – September 26 & 28, 1– 4pm
- JP Morgan Chase (25 volunteers) – September 30, 8am – noon
- Motiva (30 volunteers) – September 30, 8am – noon
- University groups include:
– University of Houston “BCAA 9/11 National Day of Service Annual Event” (300 volunteers) – September 10, 8am – 12pm
– Baylor College of Medicine (12 – 50 volunteers) – September 11, 14, 15, 16 & 17
– Texas Southern University Sensations Dance Team – September 15 at 12pm- Special presentation at noon by Texas Southern University Sensations dance team in the Food Bank Lobby East Branch location (535 Portwall)
- Other non-profit groups include:
– National Charity League (6 groups with 166 total volunteers) – throughout September, 8am – 12pm.
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- Houston Food Bank’s Hunger Game – September 12-30 *Registration begins Aug. 8
The Houston Food Bank’s Hunger Game is a peer-to-peer competition in which participants come together as a group to compete against other groups in our community. The overall goal of the competition is to produce the most meals possible for our 18-county service area by volunteering, fundraising and hosting a food drive.
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Participants will be awarded points for financial and food contributions and volunteering their time at the Houston Food Bank as follows:- 1 lb. of food = 1 point
- $1 = 3 points
- 1 volunteer = 50 points
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Bonus Meals Opportunities:
• 250 bonus points for Early Registration by Friday, August 26, 2022
• September 12 – Hunger Game Kick-off Bonus Shift (ages 6+) 6 to 9 pm (500 bonus points for Group Leader and 250 for each participant)
• September 21 – Warehouse Wednesday Bonus Day (all day) (ages 6+) (250 bonus points)
• September 29 – Thursday Night Bonus Shift 6 to 9 pm (ages 6+) (250 bonus points)
• September 30 – Hunger Game ends
• October 2 – Food and financial donations due at Houston Food Bank (Portwall Warehouse)
• 250 bonus points for posting a picture on Social Media explaining why your team is fighting hunger during Hunger Action Month – discussing with Sean & Shannon Tuesday 7/19
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- 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance at the Houston Food Bank
Each year, Points of Light commemorates 9/11 National Day of Service as part of an ongoing campaign to engage people in signature events that inspire, equip and mobilize volunteers to give back to their communities. Houston Food Bank’s Day of Service will honor the victims and heroes of that day through acts of service to encourage a new generation of community-centric individuals. Individuals and groups can sign up to volunteer on this day; shifts from 8 am to noon, 1 to 4 pm, and 6 to 9 pm.
. - Fourth Annual Huddle Against Hunger Kick-off – September 19
Houston Texans, Kroger and Houston Food Bank are launching the 4th year of Huddle Against Hunger at Tice Elementary School (Galena Park ISD) on September 19. Huddle Against Hunger is a free curriculum designed to provide information on hunger and poverty to elementary, middle and high school students.
. - 7th Annual Houston Texans/Whataburger Campaign Kick-off – September 20
On September 20, Whataburger and Houston Texans will kick-off the 7th annual event which encourages customers to support HFB during Hunger Action Month. September 19 to October 10, Whataburger customers will be encouraged to donate $1 or more to the Houston Food Bank at any of the 147 Whataburger locations across Houston to receive a coupon good for a free Whataburger with the purchase of a medium fry and 32-ounce drink. Event location at a Whataburger store TBA
. - Houston Food Bank drivers photo contest
The drivers who deliver food throughout the food bank’s 18-county service area are their ambassadors to the community. This Hunger Action Month, the drivers will be taking pictures of food insecurity challenges they see as well as opportunities for hope and change. The winners of this photo contest will have their pictures displayed on HFB’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
. - Amplify your digital voice and be an advocate for hunger during Hunger Action Month!
Using your voice during Hunger Action Month is as simple as sharing a picture, a post or a tweet in support of hunger relief and helping our neighbors achieve long-term stability. During September, use #foodforbetterlives on social media to shine a light on the reality of food insecurity
. - Houston Food Bank is debuting an Action Center page that provides one stop for learning about the policy issues we support and advocating with elected officials to create a world that doesn’t need food banks. https://houstonfoodbank.quorum.us/
How else can the public help?
- “Like” Houston Food Bank on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram at @HoustonFoodBank, to get ongoing information on events, promotions and announcements.
- Update Facebook status to share a hunger fact with friends and colleagues to raise awareness.
- Volunteer at Houston Food Bank or one of its member agencies.
- Make a donation! For every $1 donated to Houston Food Bank, they can provide a person with a full day of meals!