The Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre is calling on residents to break the silence surrounding hunger and Give Hunger a Voice during Hunger Awareness Week May 5-9.
They are asking community members to voice their stories, their concern, their support and their solutions for hunger on Food Banks Canada's online story wall of hunger.
"Hunger is an issue many people are uncomfortable discussing so during Hunger Awareness Week we are working to make sure the voice of hunger is loud and clear," says Executive Director Bill Hall.
"We encourage everyone in to visit the story wall and hear, or contribute to the multitude of voices of hunger."
Nearly 850,000 Canadians will visit a food bank for assistance this month alone, according to a food bank press release. Of those, 36 per cent are children.
Hall says the Battlefords have seen a steady increase in people using the food bank in the past couple of years with first time visits for the month of March being 1,528 people, a 29 per cent increase over March of 2013, and of those, over 50 per cent are children and youth.
The story wall (www.facebook.com/FoodBanksCanada) features photos, videos and written submissions of: personal stories of hunger; supportive messages for those living with hunger; concern about hunger in Canada; and solutions to ease hunger.
It also includes a video featuring local kids from the Battlefords helping other kids, with the Food for Kids program at the local food bank.
Other events planned for Hunger Awareness Week include a hunger awareness barbecue Thursday, May 8 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the CJNB parking lot. Hamburgers or smokies, with a drink and treat will be available for $6 ($5 with a non-perishable food donation).
The CBI rehabilitation centre/John Paul II food drive for the food bank will also be held Thursday starting at 6 p.m. covering the Fairview, Killdeer, 99th Street West and Douglas Avenue North area, in North Battleford.
Participating elementary classrooms will weigh the food they collect, with the winning classroom from each school given a free movie at the Capitol Theatre Friday, May 9.
Looking for more ways to get involved during Hunger Awareness Week? Contact the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre at 306-937-5505 or visit www.hungerawarenessweek.ca for ideas.
