Hunger is a big problem in America. Millions of people don’t have access to food to live healthy and active lives. Many are working families, children and the elderly. According to the USDA more than 34 million people (including 9 million children) in the United States are food insecure.
Hunger is a complex issue. Unfortunately, many people in America struggle to meet their basic needs, which increases their risk of food insecurity. For example, lay-offs at work, unexpected car maintenance, or a sudden accident can suddenly force a family to choose between buying food and paying bills. COVID-19 only exacerbated this issue, with record numbers of people experiencing job loss and economic hardship. Today, many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and look to other means for support.
Food banks provide a critical safety net for these individuals and families. These organizations collect and distribute nutritious food to people in need, by partnering with local farmers, grocery stores, and restaurants to reduce food waste and increase access to fresh produce. They often offer additional services, such as nutrition education and cooking classes, to help people make the most of the food they receive.
That’s where we come in.
At EnableComp, giving back to the communities in which we live and work is core to our culture, and helping those facing hunger has been a long-standing tradition here. It’s an important cause we believe in and actively work together to improve our neighborhoods and support those in need. In previous years, we held company-wide canned food drives benefitting food banks local to middle Tennessee as part of our charitable giving mission. As our footprint has expanded across the country, this year we were thrilled to grow our reach even further by partnering with Feeding America, a non-profit organization whose network reaches every county in the United States!
To kick off our fundraising, we divided everyone into eight teams to compete to raise the most funds in a virtual food drive, as well as created a fundraising page through Feeding America’s Team Feed Corporate Challenge. We promoted our cause on social media to encourage more people to get involved, and we even had a little fun coming up with clever team names! All of our employees rallied together to see which team would rise to the top, sparking some friendly competition across departments.
Feeding America is the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States. With 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries strong, they collect food donations and move them to communities where they are needed most for local food banks in the network to collect, sort, store and distribute them to soup kitchens, shelters and meal programs. Some of their meal programs include school-based food pantries, SNAP application assistance, and Kids Café, which gives free meals to kids after school, on the weekends, and during the summer alongside fun activities and tutoring.
Additionally, Feeding America is committed to more than providing food for people in need. They work to address the root causes of hunger and make progress toward ending hunger for good, by partnering with other organizations that cover everything from homelessness to healthcare.
Hunger knows no boundaries – it touches every community in the U.S., including your own.
That’s why donating to organizations like Feeding America is so much more than money. It’s a nutritious meal for a neighbor, colleague or child who may be struggling with hunger. It’s advocacy for research into policies that create long-term solutions to hunger, such as affordable housing initiatives or access to job training and education programs. It’s disaster relief, for when the unexpected strikes and a community needs some time to rebuild.
EnableComp is incredibly proud to support Feeding America. Together, we raised $5,636 for the cause, which will provide 56,360 meals for our neighbors in need. Thank you for helping us give back to the communities in which we live and work!
Want to learn how your time or your dollar makes a difference? Visit feedingamerica.org.