Hunger Action Month
September 1 - September 30
About Hunger Action Month
Hunger Action Month is a national awareness campaign held throughout September each year in the United States. Launched by Feeding America in 2007, it mobilises individuals, businesses, and communities to take action against food insecurity by donating, volunteering, advocating, and raising awareness about hunger across the country. September 2026 marks the campaign’s 19th year.
What is Hunger Action Month?
Hunger Action Month is an annual September campaign run by Feeding America, the largest hunger relief organisation in the United States, and its network of more than 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and programmes. The campaign aims to raise awareness of food insecurity in America, inspire people to take concrete action, and drive donations and volunteer hours at a time when the need is particularly acute.
Orange is the official colour of Hunger Action Month, chosen because the nation’s first food stamps were orange, connecting the campaign visually to the long history of federally supported hunger relief in the United States. A key moment during the month is Hunger Action Day, which in 2026 falls on Tuesday, 29 September, when participants across the country are encouraged to take a specific, visible action in support of ending hunger. You can also read about the annual global World Hunger Day, observed each May, and World Food Day, observed on 16 October.
When is Hunger Action Month?
Hunger Action Month runs from Tuesday, 1 September to Wednesday, 30 September 2026. The campaign’s signature Hunger Action Day falls on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. The campaign is observed annually throughout September and has been held every year since Feeding America launched it in 2007.
Why Hunger Action Month Matters
Food insecurity in the United States is a problem of a scale that surprises many people. According to data from the USDA and Feeding America’s 2025 Map the Meal Gap report, 47.9 million Americans, approximately 1 in 7 households, lived in food-insecure households in 2024. Of these, 14.1 million were children, meaning roughly one in five children in the United States experienced food insecurity in that year.
The problem is not simply about not having enough food: it is about the chronic stress and instability of not knowing where the next meal will come from. Households experiencing food insecurity must make impossible choices between food and other essentials such as rent, utilities, and medical care. Some 5.4% of US households experienced very low food security in 2024, meaning they regularly skipped meals or reduced their food intake because they could not afford more.
The disparities are stark. Single-parent households headed by women experienced food insecurity at a rate of 36.8%, and food insecurity rates among Black and Latino individuals in many counties approach 60%. These figures reflect structural inequalities that Hunger Action Month encourages advocates to understand and address.
How to Get Involved in Hunger Action Month
- Donate to your local food bank: The Feeding America network of food banks operates across the US. Find your nearest food bank at feedingamerica.org and make a monetary donation. Financial donations are often more efficient than food donations, as food banks can purchase food in bulk at lower cost per meal.
- Volunteer at a food bank or pantry: Contact your local food bank to find out when and how volunteers are needed. Food banks rely heavily on volunteer labour to sort, pack, and distribute food, and September is typically one of the busiest periods.
- Organise a food drive: September is an ideal month to organise a food drive at your workplace, school, faith group, or community organisation. Focus on collecting high-nutrition, shelf-stable items such as tinned pulses, wholegrain pasta and rice, tinned fish, and nut butters.
- Wear orange: Orange is the colour of hunger action. Wearing orange throughout September, particularly on Hunger Action Day (29 September 2026), is a simple, visible way to signal solidarity with people facing food insecurity.
- Advocate for anti-hunger policies: Contact your elected representatives to advocate for robust federal nutrition programmes, including SNAP and free school meal schemes.
- Share on social media: Use the hashtags #HungerActionMonth and #HungerActionMonth2026 throughout September to share facts, stories, and calls to action.
History of Hunger Action Month
Hunger Action Month was launched by Feeding America in 2007, building on the organisation’s existing network of food banks and its long history of hunger relief work. Feeding America, formerly known as America’s Second Harvest, had been working to end hunger in the United States since 1979, distributing food through a national network of food banks.
The choice of September was deliberate. The summer months, when children are not in school and cannot access school meal programmes, often intensify food insecurity for families. As summer ends and families face new financial pressures at the start of the school year, September provides a timely opportunity to replenish food bank reserves and draw attention to the ongoing need.
Orange became the campaign’s signature colour in recognition of the original orange food stamps used in the United States before the electronic benefits system replaced them. Today, on Hunger Action Day in September, cities across the country turn landmarks orange, and social media fills with orange-clad supporters, creating a visible national moment of solidarity with those experiencing hunger.
Noteworthy Facts
- 47.9 million Americans lived in food-insecure households in 2024, according to Feeding America’s 2025 Map the Meal Gap report.
- 14.1 million children in the United States experienced food insecurity in 2024, representing approximately one in every five children in the country.
- Orange is the official colour of Hunger Action Month, chosen to honour the original orange food stamps.
- Hunger Action Month was launched by Feeding America in 2007, making 2026 its 19th annual observance.
- Feeding America’s network includes more than 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programmes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hunger Action Month?
Hunger Action Month is an annual September awareness campaign run by Feeding America and its network of more than 200 food banks across the United States. It raises awareness of food insecurity, inspires donations and volunteering, and advocates for policies that address the structural causes of hunger in America.
When is Hunger Action Month in 2026?
Hunger Action Month runs from Tuesday, 1 September to Wednesday, 30 September 2026. Hunger Action Day falls on Tuesday, 29 September 2026.
Why is orange the colour of Hunger Action Month?
Orange was chosen because the United States’ first food stamps were orange, connecting the campaign to the history of hunger relief in America.
Hashtags
#HungerActionMonth | #HungerActionMonth2026 | #HungerAction
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