Note from Julie

Food is a basic need, but that’s not the whole story.

Food is culture. And love. And joy. Food is dignity. It is every person’s right to have the food they say they need to thrive.

But unfortunately for many in our community, this isn’t a given. Earlier this year, Feeding America released the Map The Meal Gap report, which dives into food insecurity nationwide. In our 4-county service area, 72,330 people experienced food insecurity in 2022. The rate at which families visited food pantries in 2023 and 2024 continues to rise and speaks of a deep-seated need. This news comes as no surprise to anyone who’s visited a grocery store in the last year. The amount of money needed to be food-secure reached its highest level in 20 years, according to Feeding America.

Second Harvest is working hard to create pathways to nutritious food in our region through our core work of distributing millions of pounds of food each year but also through:

• Efforts in Erie and Huron counties to increase SNAP enrollment (the largest anti-hunger program in the US) and benefits outreach for community members.
• Expanding our food delivery options to help serve low-income seniors with transportation or mobility limitations.
• Bringing produce from local urban farms directly to pregnant and new mothers at our local WIC offices.
• Advocating for policies at the local, state and federal levels by learning about the most pressing needs through community conversations and establishing strong relationships with our elected officials.

YOU can be part of these efforts during Hunger Action Month this September and join us at the 19th annual Generous Helpings event on September 29. Celebrate the work we have done over the last year and help us raise funds to ensure every person has the food they need to thrive.