Hunger Action Month: Reflections on Solving Food Insecurity

September marks Hunger Action Month, a time when communities across the U.S. unite in the fight against hunger.

Having spent two years at Gleaners Community Food Bank, honored as the 2019 Feeding America Food Bank of the Year, I witnessed firsthand that food insecurity is a solvable problem. It’s a problem that can be addressed with collective action, innovation, and the belief that everyone deserves access to nutritious food.

The Urgency and Scope of Food Insecurity

Hunger is more than just an issue of empty stomachs; it’s about systemic inequities that leave families choosing between rent, healthcare, and food. As highlighted by Feeding America’s Elevating Voices report, despite improvements in the economy, the rising costs of essentials like groceries and rent have intensified food insecurity for many families. During my time at Gleaners, we saw firsthand how families built patchwork support systems, relying on both charitable food assistance and federal programs to make ends meet.

It was in moments like these that I realized the importance of marketing and advancement integration. Gerry Brisson, Gleaners' President and CEO, and Board Chair of the Food Bank Council of Michigan, was instrumental in teaching me how critical it is to align marketing with fundraising to ensure both resources and stories of impact reached our audience. Marketing isn’t just about raising awareness; it’s about creating a narrative that moves people to act.

The Power of Collective Action

Gleaners faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic hit, our food distribution efforts doubled overnight. Monthly distributions, which normally served a vast number of households, doubled, with our team working relentlessly to meet demand. I distinctly remember how pallets of food filled our meeting and conference rooms—spaces meant for strategic discussions now housed emergency supplies as our community faced a dire crisis. And, I remember the long lines at mobile food distribution sites. In those moments, the camaraderie between the Marketing, Communications, Stewardship, and Food & Fund Drives teams that I oversaw was palpable. Together, we weren’t just helping deliver food; we were delivering hope.

One of my key takeaways during this time was that hunger is a logistics problem as much as it is a social one. As we scaled up our operations, every decision was about maximizing impact. Fresh produce, dairy, and pantry staples were mobilized across five counties, reaching children who could no longer rely on school meals, seniors isolated at home, and families who had lost income. It was an all-hands-on-deck operation, with Gleaners distributing a record 63.7 million pounds of food during that time.

Donations Move the Needle

While food drives are well-intentioned and important, financial contributions have a far greater impact. Every dollar allows food banks like Gleaners to purchase essential items at bulk rates, which ensures a consistent and nutritious supply of food to those in need. From my experience, the misconception that canned goods are the best way to help persists. In reality, monetary donations give organizations the flexibility to provide fresh produce, proteins, and dairy—nutrients that are often inaccessible to food-insecure families.

If we truly want to move the needle, we must encourage donations that allow organizations to scale their impact. From local food banks like Gleaners to national organizations like Feeding America, donations provide the critical support needed to end hunger.

Beyond Donations: Partnering for Greater Impact

During Hunger Action Month, I urge everyone to look beyond food banks. Organizations like the Fair Food Network and The Farmlink Project—two I’ve had the privilege of getting to know more in recent years—are driving systemic change. Fair Food Network connects farmers to low-income communities, ensuring fresh, affordable food reaches those who need it most. The Farmlink Project, a student-run organization, rescues surplus farm produce that would otherwise go to waste and delivers it to communities facing food insecurity.

These partnerships remind us that ending hunger requires more than just distributing food—it requires changing the system. From farm to table, every step along the supply chain matters, and organizations like these are creating innovative ways to close the gap between abundance and need.

Solving Hunger is Possible

As I reflect on my years with Gleaners, one thing remains clear: hunger is a solvable problem. It takes resources, creativity, and collaboration, but we can get there. We’ve seen how food distribution programs can be scaled, how policy can drive systemic change, and how neighbors can help neighbors when we unite in common cause.

This Hunger Action Month, consider how you can support the fight against hunger in your community. Whether through donations to your local food bank, volunteering, or advocating for policies that prioritize food security, your actions matter. Together, we can build a world where no one goes hungry.

If you’d like to support the cause, consider donating to organizations like Feeding America, Gleaners Community Food Bank or your local food bank, The Farmlink Project, or the Fair Food Network. Every bit helps in the fight to end hunger.