East Wellington Community Services proud to be participating Hunger Awareness Week, May 5-9, 2014 and organizers are asking the community to participate and raise hunger awareness through our Say It, Show It, Share It campaign. Hunger Awareness Week is a week-long initiative that challenges Canadians to learn more about the issue of hunger and the important work of food banks, including the food banks in Erin and Rockwood operated by East Wellington Community Services.
Nearly 900,000 Canadians will visit a food bank for assistance this month alone. Of those, 38 % are children. Hunger is often a hidden issue and EWCS is working to raise awareness during Hunger Awareness Week 2014.
In Erin, more than 254 families have been assisted in the past year or more than 400 children and 700 adults. “Those are significant statistics for our community and sadly , the need seems to continue to grow,” said Alyssa Cunningham, Care Coordinator with EWCS. “I’m often asked about who uses the food bank program and the answer really is it can be anyone at anytime. From friends, neighbors, seniors, those between jobs and those who may be working but still can’t make ends meet. The program is here for those who need it and our user profile is quite varied. It’s often not someone you may think would require the service.”
So what does ‘Say It, Show It, Share it really mean for the Hunger Awareness Campaign? It’s as easy as three simple steps:
Say It!: Share your experience and create awareness! You can go online and show your support via; Facebook,Twitter or blogging. As well you can share conversations with others such as friends, family, teachers, classmates or members in the community about hunger.
Show It!: Show us what hunger means to you through posters, drawings, collages, videos, poems, mini skits or plays, etc. Have fun and get creative…any way you wish to raise awareness we want to see it!
Share It!: You can share your time, donate food or funds to The East Wellington Community Services Food Bank in order to help out those in need right here in your Community!
Together, the East Wellington community can make an impact on the solvable issue of hunger in the community. Organizers are asking residents to participate in Hunger Awareness Week to Say It, Show It, Share It!, to increase awareness and fill the local food bank shelves for the upcoming summer that will allow the EWCS Food Bank program to provide people in the community access to nutritious food. “Simple actions can really help our community support those who rely on this program in order to help their families have enough to eat. A food or monetary donation toward the program means so much and makes a huge impact,” said Barb Carscadden, Coordinator Community Support with EWCS.
EWCS is encouraging everyone – students, parents, families, and the business community to join us May 5-9, 2014 to say it, show it and share it for Hunger! For more information on Hunger Awareness Week and how you can help visit www.hungerawarenessweek.ca or contact: Alyssa at 519-833-9696 or Barb at 519-856-2113.
