Letter: Get involved in helping end food insecurity during Hunger Action Month

September is Hunger Action Month. Food Bank of the Albemarle serves 15 counties in Northeast North Carolina to address food insecurity. Food insecurity has increased in the region from 36,000 to 43,630 people, which is 14.7% of the population. For children, the number is even higher: 23% of children face hunger: that is one in four children.

Nine years ago, Tammy Sawyer, director of communications and marketing at College of The Albemarle, started the ECP Backpack Buddies initiative that partners with the Food Bank to provide weekend meals to students in public education. Other community partners, like churches and police departments, work with her to pick up, organize, and drop off bags of food that go home with students.

For Hunger Action Month, you can be the change by volunteering at the Food Bank of the Albemarle or donating non-perishable food items to the Food Bank.

You can become involved in the ECP Backpack Buddies program by reaching out to Ms. Sawyer at 252-335-0821, Ext. 2420 or by email at tammy_sawyer32@albemarle.edu.

ELIZABETH SHAKIN

Elizabeth City