- Hunger Action Month takes place every September, bringing attention to hunger and food insecurity while encouraging people to take action.
- Hunger relief takes many forms, including food distribution, emergency response, food rescue, advocacy, nutrition programs, and long-term food security initiatives.
- There are many ways to help, from donating and volunteering to organizing food drives, raising awareness, and advocating for better food access.
- The 10 nonprofits featured below fight hunger at different levels, from local communities and regional food banks to national networks and international humanitarian programs.
Every September, Hunger Action Month brings greater attention to hunger and food insecurity while encouraging people to take action in their own communities and beyond.
Across the United States and around the world, nonprofits are working to make nutritious food more accessible, respond to hunger during emergencies, rescue food that might otherwise go to waste, and address the underlying causes of food insecurity.
Hunger Action Month is an opportunity to recognize that work and consider how each of us can help. Whether you donate, volunteer, organize a food drive, advocate for better food access, or simply raise awareness, there are many ways to make a difference.
The organizations in this guide represent different approaches to fighting hunger, from nationwide food bank networks and local community programs to international humanitarian organizations and sustainable food initiatives.
Why Does Hunger Action Month Matter?
Hunger Action Month is observed each September to raise awareness about hunger and encourage people to take action against food insecurity. Throughout the month, individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and communities can support hunger relief through donations, volunteering, food drives, advocacy, and greater awareness of the challenges facing people experiencing hunger.
Reliable access to nutritious food can affect nearly every part of a person’s life, including health, education, financial stability, and the ability to meet other essential needs.
The causes of food insecurity are also complex. Rising living costs, unemployment, emergencies, natural disasters, conflict, and limited access to nutritious food can all make it more difficult for individuals and families to put meals on the table.
That complexity is why there is no single solution to hunger. Some organizations provide immediate access to meals and groceries. Others treat and prevent malnutrition, rescue surplus food, advocate for stronger food systems, or help communities develop sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty.
Hunger Action Month brings these efforts into focus while giving everyone an opportunity to consider how they can contribute.
10 Hunger Relief Nonprofits Making a Difference
Hunger relief nonprofits address food insecurity in many different ways. Some provide immediate access to meals and groceries, while others focus on emergency response, food rescue, advocacy, nutrition, or sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty.
Here are 10 organizations working to fight hunger and improve food security in communities around the world.
Feeding America
As the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, Feeding America works with a nationwide network of food banks, pantries, meal programs, policymakers, supporters, and communities to help end hunger in America. Its work helps ensure children, families, seniors, and other neighbors facing food insecurity have access to nutritious food and the resources they need.
Action Against Hunger USA
For more than four decades, Action Against Hunger USA has worked to prevent and treat life-threatening hunger in communities affected by conflict, disasters, and other emergencies. Its programs combine nutrition, clean water, healthcare, and food security initiatives with long-term solutions designed to help children, families, and communities build healthier, more resilient futures.
Action Against Hunger Canada
Focused on fighting hunger and its root causes worldwide, Action Against Hunger Canada supports humanitarian efforts that help communities facing food insecurity and crisis. Through nutrition, food security, clean water, and emergency response programs, the organization works to address immediate needs while helping people and communities build greater resilience for the future.
The Hunger Project
Taking a community-led approach to ending hunger, The Hunger Project empowers people to create lasting change within their own communities. Through sustainable, grassroots, and women-centered strategies, the organization addresses hunger and poverty while helping individuals and families build greater self-reliance, strengthen their communities, and create healthier futures with dignity.
Roadrunner Food Bank
Focused on feeding people today while building greater self-sufficiency for tomorrow, Roadrunner Food Bank works to end hunger throughout New Mexico. Through partnerships with food pantries, schools, senior centers, healthcare providers, and other community organizations, the food bank helps connect individuals and families with nutritious food and resources across the state.
Northern Illinois Food Bank
With dignity, equity, and convenience at the center of its mission, Northern Illinois Food Bank provides nutritious food and resources to neighbors facing food insecurity. Through partnerships and innovative programs, the food bank works to make healthy food more accessible while strengthening the network of organizations and communities working together to address hunger across Northern Illinois.
Food Bank of Central New York
Combining nutritious food distribution with education and advocacy, Food Bank of Central New York leads efforts to eliminate hunger throughout central and northern New York. By working alongside community partners, the organization helps children, families, seniors, and other neighbors access nutritious food while strengthening regional efforts to address food insecurity.
Donate to Food Bank of Central New York
We Don't Waste
Connecting hunger relief with environmental sustainability, We Don’t Waste rescues quality surplus food and redistributes it to nonprofit and community partners serving people experiencing food insecurity. Its work helps keep good food out of landfills and puts it onto tables while supporting broader efforts to increase food access, reduce food waste, and create a more sustainable food system.
Bridgeport Rescue Mission
Serving people facing hunger, homelessness, and poverty, Bridgeport Rescue Mission works to fight poverty from the inside out through compassionate care and support. The faith-based organization helps meet immediate needs while offering services designed to restore hope, promote healing, and help individuals and families work toward greater stability and lasting change.
People Loving Nashville
Centered on sharing dignity and compassion with unhoused and vulnerable neighbors, People Loving Nashville provides relief while creating opportunities for community, connection, and restoration. The faith-based organization brings people together around its mission of serving vulnerable members of the Nashville community and helping ensure they are met with care, dignity, and meaningful support.
How Can You Support Hunger Relief During Hunger Action Month?
There are many ways to support hunger relief during Hunger Action Month, including donating, volunteering, organizing a food drive, raising awareness, and advocating for better food access. Hunger relief organizations depend on financial support as well as volunteers, community partnerships, public awareness, and advocates to help address immediate needs and create lasting solutions.
Donate
Financial contributions give hunger relief nonprofits the flexibility to purchase food, respond quickly during emergencies, and invest in programs that strengthen long-term food security.
Depending on the organization, donors may be able to contribute in several ways, including cash, stock, donor-advised funds, cryptocurrency, and other assets. Explore the giving methods available from the nonprofit you choose to support and select the option that works best for you.
Volunteer
Food banks, meal programs, shelters, and community organizations rely on volunteers throughout the year to sort donations, prepare meals, distribute food, and support local programs.
Consider contacting a hunger relief organization in your area to learn where volunteers are needed most. Even a few hours of your time can help nonprofits serve their communities.
Organize a Food Drive
Bring your workplace, school, neighborhood, faith community, or other group together by organizing a food drive for a local hunger relief organization.
Before collecting items, contact the organization you plan to support. Food banks and pantries may have specific foods and household essentials they need most, as well as guidelines about the types of donations they can accept.
Raise Awareness
Hunger Action Month is also an opportunity to help more people understand food insecurity and the work being done to address it.
Share educational resources, highlight hunger relief organizations in your community, participate in Hunger Action Month campaigns, or encourage friends and family to learn more about hunger. Greater awareness can inspire more people to get involved.
Advocate for Food Security
Long-term progress against hunger requires addressing the circumstances and systems that contribute to food insecurity.
Learn about food access issues affecting your community and the programs designed to address them. You can also support initiatives that seek to improve access to affordable, nutritious food and strengthen food security for individuals and families.
How Can You Find More Hunger Relief Nonprofits to Support?
Donors can find hunger relief nonprofits by considering whether they want to support local food access, national hunger relief, international humanitarian aid, food rescue, or long-term food security programs. The Giving Block’s Hunger category features additional nonprofits working to fight hunger, making it easier to discover organizations aligned with the causes and communities you care about.
Hunger Action Month may take place in September, but the work of fighting hunger continues throughout the year.
The nonprofits featured in this guide show just how many approaches can contribute to that goal. Some provide meals today. Others rescue food, respond to humanitarian emergencies, strengthen local food systems, advocate for change, or help communities build sustainable paths toward food security.
There is no single way to make a difference. You can donate, volunteer your time, organize your community, raise awareness, or advocate for better access to nutritious food.
Ready to find an organization to support? Explore more hunger relief nonprofits and discover a mission that inspires you.
