Member Perspective: Michele Lofton

What opportunities are available for the business community to support the fight against hunger, especially for vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 crisis?

September is Hunger Action Month—a time when the Coalition Against Hunger, an anti-hunger leader in the Philadelphia region, works to increase our community’s understanding of food insecurity and identify ways each of us can make an impact on our local level.

In the Philadelphia region, food insecurity is experienced by more than 730,000 of our neighbors—and those numbers were prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which as of June has left 13.7% of Pennsylvanians, and 17.7% of Philadelphians unemployed!

The Coalition Against Hunger connects people to emergency food resources through our food pantry network, our SNAP (food stamp) Hotline; and our advocacy of policies that create access to nutrition programs for so many people in need.

While social distancing can hinder more in-person ways to support, here are several ways that you can get involved in the fight to end hunger in a safe, yet meaningful way:

• Live the day on a SNAP budget (Average in PA = $1.31/meal; maximum = $2.10/meal). Or make your family a SNAP budget dinner ($5.24-$8.40 for a four person family).
• Skip a meal today to honor those who routinely have to go without enough to eat.
• Organize a tag or lawn sale to clean your home before winter. Donate the proceeds to support the Coalition Against Hunger.

These are just a few ways to get involved. To learn of even more creative ways to support the fight to end hunger, please use this link to visit our “30 Ways in 30 Days” calendar that highlights ideas for learning, teaching, or taking action on hunger for every day of the month.

Now more than ever, there is so much that can be done to support our hungry neighbors across the Philadelphia region who remain impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, further adding to their struggle to put food on their table.