Hunger Action Month

Tens of millions of people around the country are dealing with food insecurity. September is Hunger Action Month, encouraging people to donate to organizations that help families get the food they need.

Bill Wixey spoke to Linda Nageotte, the CEO of Food Lifeline, which supplies 350 food banks across Western Washington.

"When the pandemic hit we did see just extraordinary increases in the number of people who were turning to their local food pantry or meal program for help to help put food on the table," said Nageotte. "And even though we've seen some improvements over time, the need is still so much higher than it had been prior to the pandemic."

The organization provides the equivalent of 197,000 meals every single day.

"Food Lifeline's mission is to ensure that people who are experiencing hunger today have access to the nutritious and culturally appropriate food that they need," Nageotte said. "And it's also to work to address the systemic, root causes of hunger through public policy and advocacy. Our mission hasn't changed, but one of the ways that we are changing is to focus a lot more on that second half of the mission."

To help during Hunger Action Month, go to Food Lifeline’s website to learn how to volunteer, donate, or organize a virtual food drive.