Hunger Action Month Recap
In the month of September 2022, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank’s community of supporters and volunteers participated in Hunger Action Month. Hunger Action Month is a nationally recognized initiative dedicated to encouraging community support in the fight to end hunger. This year was particularly impactful thanks to Home Bank, who stepped forward to match donations raised during Hunger Action Month for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.
Below is a list of events, initiatives, and fundraisers held during the month of September.
Liberty Mutual
September began strongly with Liberty Mutual presenting the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank with a donation of $10,000. This was done to celebrate Liberty Mutual’s 110 years in business.
Hunger Blitz
On September 4, the Food Bank participated in Hunger Blitz, a fundraising challenge leading up to the Louisiana State University and Florida State University football game. The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank faced up against the Second Harvest of the Big Bend, which serves 11 counties in the Greater Tallahassee area. The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank won the challenge by having the most donations at the end of the game, raising nearly $5,000.
Sidelining Hunger
Similarly, on September 10, LSU faced off with Southern University in a food drive challenge titled “Sidelining Hunger”. Leading up to LSU and Southern’s first-ever football game, students donated canned goods at donation bins throughout each campus. The schools raised a combined 4,021 pounds, the equivalent of 3,351 meals.
LWCC Louisiana Loyal
From September 13 to 15, over a dozen Louisiana-based businesses joined in on the Louisiana Loyal Service Project. Hosted by LWCC Louisiana Loyal, this initiative benefited the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank through activities such as food drives and volunteerism. Thanks to this effort, 158 individuals volunteered, and 14 organizations hosted food drives. As a result of the food drives, 28,070 pounds of food were donated for families in need.
On the night of September 15, LWCC employees and their families packed backpacks of food for the Food Bank’s BackPack program. These backpacks will be distributed to underprivileged elementary school children throughout the Food Bank’s 11-parish service area. In addition to the food drives, the food box packing efforts helped produce the equivalent of 29,291 meals for the community.
Empty Bowls
The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank closed out Hunger Action Month with the return of Empty Bowls. After a two-year pandemic hiatus, Empty Bowls returned in a very strong way – doubling the attendance of past events. With the event moving to the Baton Rouge Gallery this year, the indoor and outside event space allowed for more activities and a larger audience.
Attendees enjoyed live music from Clay Parker and Jodi James, in addition to the Glen Oaks Magnet High School Marching Band. Alligator Clay spun clay bowls for attendees to watch, and BREC on the Geaux offered fun activities for the kids. Attendees who purchased tickets were able to choose a hand-made ceramic bowl and then enjoy a variety of soups offered by local vendors. 100% of the proceeds went to benefit the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Over $31,000 was raised which will provide the equivalent of up to 93,000 meals.
WAFB Fall Food Drive
Throughout September, local news station WAFB hosted a Fall Food Drive sponsored by Essential Federal Credit Union benefiting the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank that has so far raised over $200 and 590 pounds of food. WAFB encouraged their viewers to give time, funds, and food to the Food Bank throughout the month.
Hunger Action Month Social Media Campaign
In conjunction with all these events, The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank’s social media featured four important aspects of operation: agencies, clients, programs and volunteers. Videos were posted to social media platforms to raise awareness not only of hunger but the real-life people behind it. Articles were shared from the Food Bank’s August newsletter in conjunction with these stories.
Overall Impact
The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank participated in a successful match campaign during Hunger Action Month thanks to Home Bank. More than 1,000 volunteers donated their time during September, giving over 3,700 volunteer hours to the Food Bank.
The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank thanks everyone who participated in Hunger Action Month. From sharing social media posts to donating funds, all help is appreciated in fighting hunger within our community. The Food Bank also thanks all sponsors who made these September events and great numbers possible.
Hunger Action Month
