Sparrow Partners’ Post

🍎 Mapt’s newest partner, Indy Hunger Network, serves a critical need in our community. One in four Indiana residents needed food assistance last year - hunger was at the highest level in the past decade, according to an Indy Hunger Network study. Two out of every five households had unmet food needs in any given week. Indy Hunger Network is working to change those sobering statistics, aiming to unify a network of hunger relief partners and create a cohesive system that ends food insecurity in central Indiana. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support such critical work.

September is Hunger Action Month! Hunger exists in every neighborhood. Food insecurity is at all-time record levels. No matter where you call home, hunger lives HERE, but so does help. Together, we can create healthier, hunger-free communities. Learn how to get help, give help, volunteer, and advocate for hunger solutions at mofc.org/action.

Asheville, NC update: for those who are eager to help and have not already, pause for a moment. Buncombe County is saturated with resources, volunteers, food, water right now. Please give our community time to distribute and organize. What we will need is support in 3-4 weeks once these supplies are depleted. Needs may also change at that point, and the media buzz about WNC might be quiet(er). That is when we will need your support to sustain the community and fuel rebuilding efforts. If you need to take action now, I recommend Manna Food Bank: a community lifeline that was already serving food insecurity needs across 16 counties in western NC (for the last 40 years!) Their primary warehouse was lost to flooding, and they are rebooting to meet the needs of our area. They are well connected across the region, managed to save their distribution trucks, and have the means to reach rural areas with most need: https://lnkd.in/enZn3RXF

🔔 ICYMI: 🧡 “September marks Hunger Action Month, and today, we also pay tribute to the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. 🇺🇸 Hunger is a year-round challenge, but this month and this day serve as a reminder to come together and make a difference. Millions of people across the country, including families and children, face food insecurity every day. After the September 11th attacks, David Paine and Jay Winuk—who lost his brother Glenn, a volunteer firefighter—sought to redefine this day by making it one of service. What started as a simple idea has grown into the largest day of service in America, with over 30 million people dedicating their time to help others each year. At Ridiculous Engineering, we’ve committed to service by raising awareness about hunger and supporting the millions of families facing food insecurity. Today, as we reflect on the significance of this movement, we encourage everyone to get involved. Together, we can fight hunger and foster a spirit of service and unity that extends beyond this day. 🌎🍽️ #HungerActionMonth #EndHunger #SocialImpact #RidiculousEngineering #FedsFeedFamilies https://lnkd.in/ez7VKk27

The rising costs of living paired with the expiration of some Pandemic benefits have intensified food insecurity across southwestern Pennsylvania as families work to meet basic needs. Calls to our PA 211 Southwest resource hotline has seen a 50% increase in food assistance inquiries over the past year. Between 2021 and 2022, the annual survival budget for a family of four in Pennsylvania rose to nearly $89,000 from $80,000. “This budget reflects only the basics and no extras,” says Jen Schuchart, director of meeting basic needs. “Folks who are working full-time or multiple jobs are having to make these difficult choices of whether to pay rent or feed themselves and their children. That’s 40% of our five-county region.” Read more to learn how United Way and local nonprofit organizations are working hand-in-hand to fight food insecurity in our community: https://lnkd.in/ez6myb4Y.

Important consideration - what is needed versus what you enjoy / prefer / like (?) to give. Full recovery will take months, if not years. Think / plan how your support can be longer-term.

In a recent article, the critical issue of child poverty has been brought to the forefront, revealing the harsh reality faced by children who scavenge through toxic landfills to secure basic necessities, such as food. This distressing situation underscores that poverty is a pervasive global challenge, affecting children across various nations. The piece highlights the vital work of organizations like Tiljala Shed, which strive to restore dignity and provide opportunities for underprivileged children. It emphasizes the importance of collective action and the impact that even modest donations can have when combined. Notably, it acknowledges the generous support from The Smith Brothers Family Foundation and Tony and Sage Robbins, who have committed to aiding families in need. Furthermore, the article showcases a video crafted by Dan Mace, aimed at raising awareness about child poverty and inspiring empathy and action worldwide. All revenue generated from this initiative will be directed to Beast Philanthropy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making a difference. #ChildPoverty #Philanthropy #SocialImpact #TiljalaShed #BeastPhilanthropy ---------------------- Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e-zEBVHu

As we face the aftermath of recent hurricanes, your support is crucial for our clean water initiatives. Renew your annual membership today to help fund vital programs such as water quality testing and advocacy efforts. Every contribution counts in the fight for better water policies. #ProtectOurParadise #CleanWater #WaterQuality #MembershipRenewal #CommunityImpact https://conta.cc/3BPxzk7

This past Tuesday was Hunger Action Day! CEO Scott Rumpsa joined The Morning Mix on Fox 17 to share how neighbors like you can help nourish our neighbors and build a stronger, healthier communtiy. Hunger doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Families who struggle to access the food they need often face other challenges, and a setback in one area creates a ripple effect across systems: education, childcare, employment, housing, healthcare, food, finances, and transportation. Complex problems require holistic solutions - that’s why we combine healthy food access, resource navigation, financial empowerment, and street outreach to build a community where all of our neighbors have what they need to thrive, and no one faces challenges alone. It takes a community, working together, to nourish our neighbors! Act with Action House by volunteering, hosting a drive, or donating to support our work! View the full segment here, https://loom.ly/4aGL3Gs , or visit https://loom.ly/XwKzsFY.

Hunger continues to be one of the most challenging barriers to health equity in our community. The folks at Second Helpings are continuing to do what they can, but they can't do it alone. Let's all find a way to work together to help our neighbors fight the issues that keep them food insecure, or led them there in the first place. Housing insecurity, childcare insecurity, transportation insecurity, losing a job and/or challenges with finding new employment... There are many factors to what causes or keeps a family food insecure, and while getting them fed is a priority, we all need to call more attention to the root causes and focus on solutions together. In the meantime, please consider supporting our friends at Second Helpings, as they are able to stretch every dollar into some of the most delicious and nutritious meals in our community! Looking to get involved in deeper solutions? Reach out, and let's talk! #FoodEquity #HealthEquity #SecondHelpings #NourishEDGEsolutions