September is Hunger Action Month, and even though the month is wrapping up, the Food Bank of Central New York said food insecurity is a topic that needs to be addressed year-round.
The organization is reaching out to some of the smallest “hunger heroes” to get the message out.
At Hazard Branch Library, guest reader Dan Cummings read the children’s book “Saturday at the Food Pantry” about a child who visits a food pantry with her family. Fourth-graders from Porter Elementary School enjoyed a healthy snack and listened.
It’s part of a program put on by the Food Bank of Central New York and Onondaga County Public Libraries called “Hunger Action Story Time.”
Heidi Soine, the director of development at the Food Bank, said one in eight people is experiencing hunger, and 30 percent of the food bank’s clients are children.
Soine said the number of people in need has fluctuated since COVID-19, but the organization’s numbers are now back to pandemic-era levels, so it’s important to educate kids at a young age about the help that’s available.
"They understand it,” said Soine. “Everybody knows what it feels like to be hungry, and they need to know what to do if they're hungry and if a friend is hungry."
And the kids at story time, including A’mari Floyd, 9, are getting the message.
"Food pantries are here to help you if you don't have that much food, and it's OK to need help sometimes," he said.
His classmate Dipti Karki agrees.
"I learned something,” she said. “You don't need to be ashamed for needing help."
Tom Walters from the Onondaga County Public Libraries said books can help introduce kids to challenging topics, and Hunger Action Story Time seemed like a natural fit.
"You've got groups of kids that come in, and they see the library, and they realize that there's more than just books here,” he said. “And it helps just spread the word for fantastic organizations like the Food Bank."
To find out how you can help the Food Bank click here.
