READING, Pa. – September marks Hunger Action Month, and Giant has given a significant financial boost to help a local Berks County food bank.<\/p>\n
The grocery store chain has announced it is donating $35,000 to Helping Harvest Food Bank to help the organization fight hunger.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The employees sorted and stocked the produce at the food bank’s warehouse in Spring Township. Officials say the help is crucial.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d said Jay Worrall, president of Helping Harvest.<\/p>\n
Giant says they plan to donate $400,000 to 24 additional food banks this month.<\/p>\n
According to the latest data available from Feeding America\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The organization says roughly 1 in 7 of your neighbors are unsure of where their next meal is coming from \u2013 including nearly 25,000 children.<\/p>\n
Helping Harvest additionally shared several ways to get involved locally this Hunger Action Month:<\/p>\n
Contribute to Helping Harvest with a donation<\/a>.<\/p>\n