Editors Note: Fleet Feet Sports will continue its Holiday Food Drive through Christmas Eve. Any person who brings in three non-perishable food items between now and then will get $5 off a purchase of $30 or more

By Kathryn Szklany, MA

Did you know that 1 in 8 Americans are food insecure? Food insecurity is the measure of lack of access, at times to enough food for all members of a household or having limited availability of nutritionally adequate food.  The number of people being served at food pantries and soup kitchens is increasing each month. The difficult economy is changing the face of hunger in Central New York, now affecting not just the homeless, but also the working poor.  

The Food Bank of Central New York is a not-for- profit organization working to eliminate hunger providing food, nutrition education, and assistance to 476 programs in eleven counties.  The food bank assists people in accessing food in a variety of ways from providing meals for children when school is not in session to providing a garden in a bucket as a way to get fresh produce. They focus on food safety, nutrition education, fresh foods, and advocacy. They participate in the Hunger in America Study, which is administered every 5 years, to better understand hunger in the Central and Northern New York region.  The results of the local hunger study can be seen here. The results show, who is affected by hunger, causes of hunger, and who helps the hungry.

 As many of you know Fleet Feet Syracuse is collecting non-perishable food items to donate to the Food Bank of CNY from now until the Jingle Bell run. When you bring at least 3 items to the store from now until November 20th you will receive $5 off your purchase of $30 or more, but the discount can only be used on the day the food is dropped off.

Remember, hunger does not have a holiday, so although this is the time of year many people donate goods or have food drives this is something that we need to keep in our minds at all times, no matter what time of year.

References:

Hunger Study 2010: Hunger Study in Central and Northern New York.

http://www.foodbankcny.org/default.aspx