READING, Pa. – September marks Hunger Action Month, and Giant has given a significant financial boost to help a local Berks County food bank.

The grocery store chain has announced it is donating $35,000 to Helping Harvest Food Bank to help the organization fight hunger.

Officials say that Giant gave the food bank a truckload of fresh produce from the store, and then several Giant employees spent Wednesday morning volunteering.

The employees sorted and stocked the produce at the food bank’s warehouse in Spring Township. Officials say the help is crucial.

“We really need their help very much right now; we’re on pace to distribute 14 million pounds of food this year. By comparison, 5 years ago we were distributing 6 million pounds of food, so the need is very great,” said Jay Worrall, president of Helping Harvest.

Giant says they plan to donate $400,000 to 24 additional food banks this month.

According to the latest data available from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study, 14.4% of people in Berks County and 14.9% of Schuylkill County residents have experienced food insecurity this year.

The organization says roughly 1 in 7 of your neighbors are unsure of where their next meal is coming from – including nearly 25,000 children.

Helping Harvest additionally shared several ways to get involved locally this Hunger Action Month:

Contribute to Helping Harvest with a donation.

Sign up to volunteer and give your time where it’s needed most.

Wear orange – encourage an orange day at your workplace or school to raise awareness for hunger and funds for Helping Harvest.

Round up your grocery bill at any GIANT between September 1 and December 31 for proceeds to benefit Helping Harvest.

Dine and donate at the Reading Chipotle on Papermill Rd on Tuesday, September 22 from 4-8 p.m.

Get your car washed at Luxe Car Wash in Wyomissing on Saturday, September 26 to benefit Helping Harvest.

Donate items to the organization’s partner CommunityAid, located on Allentown Pike in Temple.

Follow our Hunger Action Month Calendar all month long for more ways to get involved this September.