Funnel Fun

                                                  Have you been to a Feed the Funnel Party?

 If not, you really need to put this on the top of your bucket list, especially if you want to make a difference in the fight against hunger. The Pack Shack of Northwest Arkansas provided the opportunity to feed the funnel and pack meals during the Arkansas Women Bloggers Conference this past weekend.

After removing loose jewelry, washing our hands and donning hairnets and gloves, we were assigned to stations on an assembly line to measure,funnel and seal a  bag of  ingredients.  Bags of  Cheesy Rice and Vegetable Soup were carefully boxed for distribution  to our hungry Arkansas neighbors in  Hot Springs and Siloam Springs. With a lot of loud music, unbelievable dance moves from several of our rock star women and organized  assembly  labor,  we packed 10,300 meals in just a little over an hour.

Unfortunately, hunger affects all people  and all ages in the United States. Food insecurity  is defined by the United State Department of Agriculture as the measure of lack of success, at times, to have enough food for an active,healthy life for all household members or the uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate food. Sadly, food insecurity exists in every county in the United States. 

 Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap 2015 Study states:

•  49 million Americans are food insecure
• 1 in six Americans are hungry
• 1 in 5 children are hungry

Arkansas has more than 200,000 children that are considered food insecure. That is reason enough to have Fun at the Funnel!

I challenge you during the month of September--Hunger Action Month--to Feed the Funnel or participate in other activities  in your community to fight against hunger.

Dairy Farmers Working to Fill the Milk Gap

All during the month of September (Hunger Action Month), dairy farmers are working with Feeding America and the Great American Milk Drive to bring greater awareness to the issue of hunger in America and promote ways for all of us to get involved in helping our communities solve the issue of hunger. 

The Great American Milk Drive, the first nationwide program to deliver gallons of milk to food banks for hungry families, kicked off early this year. To date, more than 90,000 gallons have been donated as part of the dairy industry's ongoing commitment to helping families get much needed nutrient-rich milk.

You can help fill the milk gap with your donation at MilkLife.

Thank-you for helping reach out to  the 49 million people facing food insecurity in America.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

During the month of June, Midwest dairy farmers will donate $1 to Feeding America for each view of Feedin' a Nation video. With your help, we can donate the equivalent of 160,000 meals for families in need.

 

 I'm thankful for the commitment of America's dairy farmers that work seven days a week on the farm to provide nutritious milk and  to fight hunger by partnering with Feeding America, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the National Dairy Council.