Second Harvest Food Bank and the Warren County Commissioners have teamed up to highlight September as “Hunger Action Month.”

“(T)he month of September has been designated ‘Hunger Action Month’ in order to bring attention to the issue of food insecurity in our communities and to mobilize the public in the movement to end hunger,” the Warren County Commissioner said in a proclamation.

According to Alex Bohman, digital media and communications coordinator with Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA, the USDA estimates 1 in 7 people and 1 in 5 children experienced food insecurity in 2022.

“In Warren County, Second Harvest Food Bank aims to serve a food-insecure population of about 4,920 people–12.8% or 1 in 8,” Bohman said. “The Commissioners of Warren County joined us in proclaiming September as Hunger Action Month in Warren, and we call on Warren residents to join us in taking action.”

Options to get involved with Second Harvest include donating, hosting a good drive or volunteering but also to “contact your Congresspeople and urge them to support food banks in the 2024 Farm Bill,” Bohman said.

The commissioners say they are “committed to working with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania in educating people about the role and importance of food banks in addressing hunger and raising awareness of the need to devote more resources and attention to hunger issues.”

The proclamation states that Second Harvest provided 488,000 pounds of food to county residents in 2023.

“At Second Harvest Food Bank, we are encouraging the community to come together and take action to alleviate hunger in northwest Pennsylvania. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors experiencing food insecurity – one action at a time,” Karen Seggi, Second Harvest CEO, said.