Hunger Action Month raises awareness, reduces stigma

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) – Centre County Commissioners proclaimed September as Hunger Action Month in an ongoing effort to fight the issue in the region.

Both the YMCA of Centre County and the State College Food Bank say hunger is on the rise, and that inflation is mainly to blame.

“Food prices are through the roof,” YMCA Anti-Hunger Director Mel Curtis said.

Curtis said that there is a misconception that the people going hungry don’t work, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“I would say a very high percentage of people that we see, I would say in excess of 65% are people that are working. We’re not talking poverty-level people or anything like that,” Curtis said.

With misinformation being passed around, State College Food Bank Director Allayn Beck says that educating the public is important.

“We always need people to help spread awareness. Tell our story. Let the community know that we’re here, especially for people that might need help that they know we’re a resource,” Beck said.

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Hunger is a community issue and one that will only be solved by everyone working together.

“Until every community wraps its arms around its own community, we’re not going to get out of this. It’s not going to change,” Curtis said.

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