Food bank slates lunch to launch hunger awareness campaign in September

Harvest Regional Food Bank is prepping for Hunger Action Month.

September is designated to raise awareness of hunger and Harvest will kick things off with a luncheon at noon Aug. 29 at Williams Memorial Methodist Church. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased beforehand at the Harvest Regional Food Bank office at 3120 E. 19th, Texarkana, Ark., or the day of the event.

“Hunger Action Month is really one month of the year that we focus on getting awareness out about the problem of hunger, especially right here in our community,” said Camille Wrinkle, Harvest executive director. “It’s very important … because Arkansas ranks in the top five and Texas in the top 10 for food insecurity in the nation. In addition, Arkansas

is number two in the nation for childhood hunger and Texas is number six so this is right here in our community. These are people we work with, that our kids go to school with and that we live with.”

There are a number of ways the community can get involved during Hunger Action Month.

Harvest will be posting a calendar on its website and social media pages that has something people can do every day to help solve the problem of hunger.

“It’s just little steps people can take to remind themselves about the issue of hunger and generate awareness of hunger, whether that be donating the money they’d use for (coffee) or going to one of the restaurants or businesses that are participating,” Wrinkle said.

Some restaurants and businesses will be offering discounts or donating part of their profits on certain days in September.

Other ways people can help are by donations of time or money.

“Everyone has something they can contribute. We have groups that come in a do volunteer projects. We have volunteers who like to come in once a week or once a month to help out. We can use help on our mobile pantries when we go out to rural areas and serve people straight from our truck. With every dollar that’s donated we’re able to provide 5.5 meals for our community,” Wrinkle said.

Harvest Regional Food Bank is also selling T-shirts for Hunger Action Month for $15 or $17 for 2XL and 3XL.

For more information about getting involved call 870-7741398.