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Fact: More than 35 million Americans suffer from hunger or food insecurity.

Fact: Of these 35 million Americans, nearly three million are seniors and nine million are children.

June 5, 2007, is Hunger Awareness Day. Communities across the United States will participate in this year’s campaign with America’s Second Harvest. The America’s Second Harvest Network is a food bank that provides emergency food assistance to more than 25 million Americans in need every year. They secure and distribute more than two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually and support approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies, operating more than 94,000 programs including after-school programs, emergency shelters, food pantries, Kids Cafes and soup kitchens.

Hunger Awareness Day is an opportunity for all Americans to show their united support for one of the most solvable social issues in the country — hunger relief.

How to get involved:

There are many ways for you to get involved and make a difference in helping to end hunger in your community. From advocating to raising awareness, or sponsoring and participating in an event, everyone can join in the fight against hunger. Your participation can help people in your community and across the country who may not know where their next meal is coming from.

Help locally. Over 20,000 local agencies are holding events in honor of Hunger Awareness Day. Join your local food bank or food-rescue organization and volunteer in your community, Click here to find your local food bank or food-rescue organization.

Write to politicians. Advocate for hungry Americans. Communicate the importance of addressing hunger in your community to state and federal elected officials.
WriteyYour members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senators with the America's Second Harvest's Network Hunger Action Center.

Involve friends. Send an e-mail to coworkers, friends and family on National Hunger Awareness Day with a link to Second Harvest, reminding them that there are people combating hunger in communities nationwide.

Give money. Whether you have one dollar to give or one hour to share, you can make an enormous difference in the lives of the hungry people all across America. Every dollar you donate to America's Second Harvest helps provide 20 pounds of food and grocery products to men, women and children facing hunger in our country.

Collect food. Host a food drive for your local food bank or food rescue organization at work, school, church, neighborhood center or club. Be sure to contact your local food bank or food rescue organization in advance to ensure they are prepared for your food drive delivery.

Star power

This year, many of the biggest stars and celebrities are supporting Hunger Awareness Day. "Goin' Home for Hunger" links stars with their hometown food bank. They are sending leading actors and actresses, musicians and other celebrities back to where they grew up. Ben Affleck will be volunteering at the Greater Boston Food Bank. Olympian Scott Hamilton will stop by the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee to volunteer and Nick Lachey will be volunteering at Cincinnati’s FreeStore Food Bank.