Second Harvest joins effort

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley is part of a national movement to raise awareness and take action to fight hunger in America this month, which is nationally designated as Hunger Action Month.

Throughout September, Feeding America’s nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, including Second Harvest, is working to engage citizens to take action through the 30 Ways in 30 Days campaign.

The food bank, 2805 Salt Springs Road, is asking residents of Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties to visit www.mahoningvalleysecondharvest.org to pledge to help feed hungry families in our community and across the nation.

Hunger in America 2010 is a hunger study conducted by Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic-hunger relief charity.

Second Harvest distributes food through a network of 153 hunger-relief organizations in the tri-county area. These organizations include faith-based pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, shelters for battered women and after-school programs.

The study shows households served by food-bank member agencies report having to make tough choices:

51 percent choose between paying for food and paying for utilities.

31 percent choose between paying for food and paying their rent or mortgage.

35 percent choose between paying for food and paying for medical care.

29 percent choose between paying for food and paying for transportation.

Mahoning Valley residents also can help by donating nonperishable food items at CVS pharmacies in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

National sponsors of Hunger Action Month include Kraft Foods, Macy’s, The Cheesecake Factory and United Airlines.