Hunger Action Week: What You Can Do

Hunger Action Week 2012 is over, but it’s never too late to take action against hunger in our community. Find United Way of King County on Facebook, and Twitter—and tell us your thoughts and how you’re staying involved (#HungerFreeKC and @UnitedWayKC). Thanks for standing with United Way against hunger

Step out into the community

Your helping hands make a huge difference in ending hunger. Here are a few ways you can share your time and talents.

• Help keep the Pike Market Food Bank’s shelves stocked.
• Serve or bag food at the St. Vincent de Paul food bank.
• Prepare lunch for others or become a bakery pick-up driver with St. Mary’s food bank.
• Welcome guests to the YWCA East Cherry branch’s food drive.
• Join the Meal Team for Homeless Youth at Street Youth Ministries.
• Be a driver for the Rose of Lima House.
• Deliver groceries, through the Food Bank at St. Mary's, to homebound Seattle residents.
• Collect food for the Lifelong AIDS Alliance’s Care to Shop program.
• Work with Seattle Tilth’s Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands.
• Coordinate feeding programs with The World is Fun! in Seattle.

Find these and many other hunger-related volunteer opportunities >>

Who's Hungry? Here Are The Facts.

Read up on these hunger stats to learn about what hunger looks like in our community.

• 1 in 5 kids is at risk of hunger.
• Nearly 50 percent of people using King County food banks make more than 200 percent more than the federal poverty line.
• King County residents don’t have equal access to healthy food. "Food deserts" are found in south Seattle and south King County.
• In the last four years, Seattle food banks have seen a 30 percent increase in the number of clients coming to them for help. At the same time, they've had a 31 percent decline in donations.
• In 2007, 6.8 percent of residents in King County needed help putting food on the table. In 2011, that number rose to 13.4 percent.
• In the last five years, food banks have seen a 26 percent increase in clients with children. In the same period, they have seen an increase of 45 percent in senior clientele.
• Food Lifeline’s Missing Meals Report shows that more than 163 million meals are still needed each year in western Washington to ensure that all low-income families and individuals have three nutritious meals a day.
• More than 45 percent of the individuals using a food bank, meal program or shelter in western Washington have some form of post-secondary education. About 9 percent are experiencing homelessness.

Stay in the action!

Learn the ins and outs of Hunger Action Week >>
Get your dinner party one-sheet >>
Add food-bank needs to your grocery list >>