September is designated a Hunger Action Month, a time to consider the health of our community and what we can do to improve it. 

In a country as wealthy as ours and one that wastes billions of pounds in food each year, it’s unacceptable that anyone should go hungry.  Yet every day there are families in our communities that do not get the nutritional food they need to live healthy lives. 

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure.

Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a household or can last a long time. 

Fortunately there are many dedicated organizations and nonprofits that work hard to combat food insecurity in Sullivan County and beyond. 

As recently reported in the Democrat, the non-profit A Single Bite was joined by dozens of NYSEG employee volunteers at Sprouting Dreams Farm in Liberty. Together they helped erect a new greenhouse that will house sustainably and organically grown produce.

Organizers say the project will improve the physical location and capacity of Sprouting Dreams Farms. Some of the greens, vegetables and sprouts grown there are donated to A Single Bite, helping to supply more families with locally grown and nutritionally beneficial food.

The New York State Farm to School Program is another effective way to promote healthier eating behavior. Created as a way to connect schools with local farms and food producers to strengthen local agriculture, the program has helped to improve student health and promote regional food systems awareness.

According to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County, “The Department provides financial assistance to New York State schools through New York State’s Farm-to-School program. It also provides technical and promotional assistance to schools, farms, distributors and other supporting organizations to bring more local, nutritious, seasonally-varied meals to New York students.”

These are just a few small examples of the efforts in our community to address food insecurity while promoting healthier eating habits and supporting local food producers. Each of us can contribute in our own way, including donating non-perishable and canned goods to your local food bank. Together we can ensure that nobody goes hungry.