Second Harvest Food Bank in Irvine is promoting Hunger Action Month throughout September. The national awareness campaign, launched in 2007, aims to highlight food insecurity in the community.
Second Harvest has participated in Hunger Action Month since its inception, with local activities increasing during the pandemic. Claudia Bonilla Keller, CEO of Second Harvest, describes food insecurity as "a problem that is not going away and is actually getting worse." Keller noted particular concern over a finding in the “Map the Meal Gap” study released in July, which indicated that one in six Orange County children are affected by food insecurity. This represents a 27% increase over the span of one year. Keller emphasizes the importance of using this period to focus community attention on what she calls a growing problem, especially as students return to school and the holiday season approaches.
Hunger Action Month helps to energize the volunteers and financial donations that are vital to the nonprofit's operations. In the last fiscal year, Second Harvest’s 15 truck drivers distributed approximately 42.1 million pounds of food. This food was delivered to a variety of sites across the county, including local pantries, houses of worship, school programs, colleges and universities, homeless shelters, and senior centers.
Second Harvest offers various ways for residents to participate, ranging from virtual activities to direct volunteer work. Residents can engage by picking food at a farm, processing bulk items at a distribution center, or holding a virtual food drive. For those interested in learning without direct volunteering, Keller suggests taking a tour to listen and learn about the organization's work.
Special activities are scheduled for September, including events to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. On September 11, special volunteer shifts will be held at the Marine Way distribution center for individuals aged 13 and older. Another shift for ages seven and older will take place at the 45-acre Harvest Solutions Farm near Portola Springs. All volunteers participating in these commemorative shifts will receive a special coin.
Additional community events and opportunities include: on September 10, residents can help spread awareness using a social media tool kit provided by Second Harvest. On September 13, an event called “Make waves against hunger” will be held at Wild Rivers. On September 17, shoppers at Ralph’s and Food for Less can donate by rounding up their grocery bills. On September 26, a truck pull fundraising competition is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., requiring an RSVP to attend. This event involves cheering on efforts to pull a tractor-trailer weighing approximately 70,000 pounds.
Other promotional efforts for Hunger Action Month include public service announcements airing at Irvine Spectrum Center and Irvine Auto Center. Pretend City Children’s Museum and Wild Rivers are also hosting related events. Residents can also wear symbolic orange clothing to show support. Further information and a calendar of events are available.
