Do you know the face of hunger?

Photo courtesy of Feeding America.org

Last week, the USDA reported that more than 50 million Americans (including 17 million children) come from food insecure homes. To shed light on the reality of the new faces of hunger, Feeding America has partnered with the Ad Council to launch a series of PSAs featuring celebrities including Matt Damon and Taye Diggs. The purpose of these advertisements is to create awareness about hunger and inspire Americans to take action.

The message in each PSA is that the face of hunger can look like anyone: our neighbors, teachers, co-workers, etc. Each ad features a true story portrayed by a celebrity, and the goal is to break stereotypes about those who go hungry in America. Produced pro bono by Cutwater, the PSAs will begin to appear on television in early 2011 and were created as part of the national Hunger Prevention campaign.

To view the PSAs, please click here to be directed to our YouTube page.

 

Bring Home Holiday Cheer care of the Food Bank of Yolo County!

Stop by Nestware (204 G Street in Davis) between now and close-of-business on December 20th to bid on this beautiful tree decorated by the Food Bank's very own Valerie Dennis! The auction is part of the Davis Downtown Business Association's Downtown Charitable Holiday Tree Project, in which fifteen local non-profit organizations have tabletop holiday trees on display at retailers throughout Downtown beginning today. The trees will be sold via silent auction to the community with all proceeds benefiting the non-profit that decorated the tree. Highest bidders will be contacted on December 21 to arrange for tree pick-up and payment.

In addition to FBYC, participating non-profit organizations are: STEAC, Davis Parent Nursery School, Yolo County Care Continuum, Davis Community Meals, Elderly Nutrition Program, Yolo Hospice, Explorit Science Center, U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame, Yolo Adult Day Health Center, Yolo County CASA, International House, Davis Schools Foundation, Mothers of Preschoolers (University Covenant Church) and Yolo Family Service Agency.

Running of the Turkeys

Thank you to everyone who participated in the inaugural Running of the Turkeys yesterday! The 3-mile run/1.5 mile walk was held at Nelson's Grove in Woodland. Special thanks to Jennean Rogers who envisioned the event and mobilized her family and community to pull it together. Thank you to the sponsors listed below and stay tuned for the grand total raised!

Woodland Healthcare

Hunter Ad Specialties

Yolo County YMCA

Joe Muller & Sons

Payne Brothers Ranches

Chamberlain Farms

Jose and Julia Martinez

Bullseye Farms

Ag-Seeds Unlimited

TSL Seed Company

Pioneer High School Cheers Our Efforts

Thank you to the Cheer Team at Pioneer High School for collecting money in coin banks to support the Food Bank. Their efforts raised a total of $386.53 with more to come! The issue of hunger resonated with them particularly when they counted off in fives to illustrate that one out of every five children in Yolo County lives in poverty and may be going to bed hungry. We are happy to partner with the Cheer Team at Pioneer High and all of our community partners to ensure that every child in Yolo County has enough to eat.

Prairie Elementary Joins in the Fight Against Hunger

Students at Prairie Elementary School in Woodland conducted their second annual Coin Drive to benefit the Food Bank of Yolo County. Each of the 29 classes collected money in coin banks which they decorated with messages about fighting hunger and promoting nutrition. A total of $584.41 was raised, which will provide over $6,000 worth of food for those in need in Yolo County.

Thank you to the students, teachers, and families at Prairie Elementary for your commitment to fighting hunger in our community.

For more information on how to help, visit the Make a Difference page on our website.

The Food Stamp Challenge

Thank you for your interest in our virtual fund raiser. Use this blog page, and chect it frequently to stay current with what is going on with the event participants. We encourage you to actively comment on your experience as you go through this challenge. We think the experience will do three things: First, gives you first hand experience with what it is like trying to feed yourself for about $4 a day; Second, it allows you to be part of the solution in helping out the less fortunate; Third, you raise awareness about hunger and malnutrition in the community; and Fourth, you raise some money to help the Food Bank in its mission to alleviate hunger and malnutrition. Thank you for participating and for your generous and charitable involvement. To read or post comments, click here.
~ José Martinez, Food Bank Executive Director.