Make a New Year's resolution for someone else this year
You read that right. Every year as we watch the ball drop or a firework show to commemorate another new year, we look introspectively to make new resolutions of things we want to accomplish in the next year. Start going to the gym, read more, save money, the possibilities are endless and the excitement of reinventing ourselves is at the forefront of our minds.
This year, Action Mary challenges you to make a change to benefit someone else, to make a resolution to make a difference in the world. One of the many challenges our nation is facing today is the crisis of food insecurity, affecting 1 in every 10 households in the United States.
Many people use the holidays as a time to donate to food banks to give families in need the opportunity to cook Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. Unfortunately, food insecurity does not stop after the holiday season. As one of the richest countries in the world, we can all do better to support our neighbors in need year-round.
Here are 5 simple ways to contribute to helping food-insecure people near you:
Educate yourself.
Food insecurity is more prevalent than people may think and affects different communities differently. For example, food insecurity affects minority communities at a higher rate than non-minority communities. A good place to start is hunger relief organizations such as Feeding America.
2. Be mindful when donating food.
Although food banks and food pantries appreciate every item they get as donations, we could all do better to listen to food banks’ needs as we progress into the holiday season and beyond. If you can, call your local food bank or pantry before donating to see what they’re low on or in need of before donating so patrons have more well-rounded access to nutritious food.
3. Contact your representatives.
Write or call your representatives to expand on and protect policies surrounding SNAP benefits and food initiatives in your local area.
4. Volunteer.
If you have the time and want to make a real difference, find your nearest food bank or community food pantry and reach out to volunteer in a number of ways, like in distribution or contacting local farms, stores, and restaurants for food rescue programs.
5. Organize a food drive or donation event.
Organizing a community food drive is especially helpful to food banks especially around the holidays. Year-round, a fundraising event to donate money directly to food banks can help foodbanks wholesale purchase to support even more families in need.
So make one of your New Year's resolutions this year to make a difference in hunger relief. Solving food insecurity isn’t up to just one person. It will take a national effort by us all to make a difference in people’s lives.
