hunger action month

Help The Open Door Raise Hunger Awareness this September

~ todtheopendoor

September is Hunger Action Month™, an annual, nationwide campaign by the Feeding America network to raise awareness and encourage action to reduce food insecurity.  

The Open Door has partnered with several groups to raise awareness about hunger, and share information on how to help support its mission.

The Open Door distributed 2.35 million pounds of food to 11,893 people through its Food Pantries in 2024, meeting a 30% increase in requests for food assistance in 2024 (on top of a 30% increase in 2023), through 100,774 visits. 

Since August 2024, in addition to clients already receiving services, The Open Door has registered 820 new households for services at its Gloucester and Ipswich food pantry locations: An average of 68 new families per month.

HUNGER ACTION MONTH EVENTS:

The Open Door has partnered with several local organizations to raise hunger-awareness this September: 

  • Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga will issue a proclamation naming September Hunger Action Month in the city on Friday, September 12 
  • Thrift the Runway, a fashion show organized by The Open Door Thrift Store, Second Glance, will raise funds for local food assistance programs of the nonprofit on Sunday, September 14 at The Cut in Gloucester. Tickets are available at FOODPANTRY.org 
  • View Gloucester City Hall and the Beauport Hotel lit up orange all month long (orange is the color used to promote hunger awareness) 
  • Watch out for Hunger Action Month themed coasters at 1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar and the Seaport Grille 
  • Several local businesses are offering special promotions and products this month to raise awareness, including: 
  • Brothers Brew in Rockport will offer an orange themed donut  
  • Cake Ann will offer chocolate orange and creamsicle flavored cupcakes  
  • Turtle Alley will offer chocolate bars embossed with the word “LOVE”  
  • A portion of proceeds will support local hunger-relief programs of The Open Door! 
  • The Gloucester City Council will also wear orange to help raise awareness at their Tuesday, Sept. 9 meeting. 
  • SHOP and DONATE at Second Glance year-round. Revenue at the store raises funds for hunger-relief programs of The Open Door. Free referrals are also given to the community for those who need a little extra help. 

MORE WAYS TO HELP:

  • Donations are the most needed form of support as The Open Door doubles down on core programs and strategizes how to best meet increased need with fewer federal resources available. Donations big and small help move the needle, and can be made as one-time gifts, monthly donations, or annual contributions. Make a donation at FOODPANTRY.org. There are a variety of ways to make a donation, including: 
  • Company matches: many companies will also match donations made by their employees—doubling the impact of your gift. Ask your employer today if such a program exists at your workplace. 
  • Donate through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), Individual Retirement Rollover Gifts, and stocks and securities. 
  • Legacy giving 
  • Sponsor a meal 
  • Donations to Second Glance Thrift Store (make an appointment at FOODPANTRY.org/booknow). Items sold at the store create revenue for The Open Door 
  • In kind goods and services also support The Open Door mission 
  • Volunteers are another critical pillar of help at The Open Door, and provided 26,260 hours of support in 2024. There are a wide range of volunteer opportunities, from packing groceries, to sorting food, to supporting the kitchen, and tagging products for sale at Second Glance. Learn more at FOODPANTRY.org/volunteer 

Members of the community are also invited to wear orange to raise awareness about local food insecurity this September. 

Help The Open Door Raise Awareness for Hunger Action Month

~ todtheopendoor

September is Hunger Action Month™, an annual, nationwide campaign by the Feeding America network to raise awareness and encourage action to reduce food insecurity.  

The Open Door served 957 MORE people and had 4,452 MORE household visits in the first six months of 2024 than the same period in 2023. That means more people are visiting the nonprofit, more often.  

Want to help raise hunger awareness and keep local people fed?  Learn more below about the opportunities on Cape Ann to participate: 

  • Volunteer with The Open Door! Packing groceries, delivering meals, sorting food or sorting donations at Second Glance, and corporate engagement opportunities are just a few of the many roles available to volunteers. Learn more at FOODPANTRY.org/volunteer. 
  • Wear orange. Orange is the color of hunger awareness. 
  • Enjoy a sweet treat: 

Brothers Brew in Rockport will offer a vanilla donut frosted with orange sprinkles starting Sept. 8 for Hunger Action Month 

Cake Ann will offer special creamsicle and chocolate orange flavored cupcakes to help raise hunger awareness starting Sept. 1 

The Cut will offer a Hunger Action Month cocktail 

Holy Cow’s Gloucester location on Pleasant Street will serve an Orange Creamsicle flavored ice cream 

Turtle Alley will offer chocolate bars embossed with the word “LOVE” 

A portion of proceeds will support local hunger-relief programs of The Open Door! 

  • Watch out for Hunger Action Month themed coasters at 1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar, the Seaport Grille, and The Cut to donate! 
  • See Gloucester City Hall and the Beauport Hotel lit up with orange lights. 
  • Get tickets for The Open Door Thrift the Runway Fashion Show by Second Glance, the thrift store of The Open Door at The Cut on Sunday, Sept. 8. Visit FOODPANTRY.org to learn more.  
  • Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga will issue a proclamation naming September Hunger Action Month™ at the Thrift the Runway Fashion Show on Sunday, Sept.8.  
  • The Gloucester City Council will also wear orange Hunger Action Month ™ t-shirts to help raise awareness at their Tuesday, Sept. 10 meeting.  
  • SHOP and DONATE at Second Glance year-round. Revenue at the store raises funds for hunger-relief programs of The Open Door. Free referrals are also given to the community for those in need. 

Learn more about Hunger Action Month™ at FOODPANTRY.org.  

Help The Open Door “Paint the Town Orange” this September for Hunger Awareness 

~ todtheopendoor

Each year, Hunger Action Month™ offers an opportunity for community to come together to address food insecurity in the cities and towns where we live, work, and play.

Hunger Action DAY will also be recognized on Friday, Sept. 15.

Locally, The Open Door has already seen a 28% increase in visits to its Food Pantries alone in 2023, and a 20% increase in people visiting its pantries. This means more people are getting their groceries from The Open Door, more often.

Want to help support local hunger-relief programs at The Open Door and raise hunger awareness this month? Learn more below about the opportunities available:

    • Volunteer with The Open Door! Packing groceries, delivering meals, sorting food or sorting donations at Second Glance, and corporate engagement opportunities are just a few of the many roles available to volunteers. Learn more at FOODPANTRY.org/volunteer. 

    • Order a tasty “orange” treat at a local eatery. A handful of local restaurants have volunteered to help spread hunger awareness this month, including: 

      • 1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar will offer mango and blood orange sorbet, and a Naranja Nights cocktail.  QR codes for donations will also be available, and patrons may also round up their bill to support hunger-relief programs of The Open Door this September. 

      • Brother’s Brew (reopening Sept. 14) will offer a special Hunger Action Month™ donut. 

      • Cake Ann will offer special Hunger Action Month™ cupcakes. 

      • Duckworth’s Gloucester will provide a special Hunger Action Month™ menu item. 

      • Holy Cow will offer a Hunger Action Month™ ice-cream flavor starting on Hunger Action Day Friday Sept. 15 through the rest of the month at its Gloucester location. 

      • Seaport Grille will offer a pumpkin cheesecake and creamsicle margarita. QR codes for donations will also be available, and patrons may also round up their bill to support hunger-relief programs of The Open Door this September. 

      • Turtle Alley will offer chocolate bars with the word “LOVE” embossed on them, wrapped in cellophane with an orange ribbon.  

    • Shop at a special, orange-themed shopping event at Second Glance, Thrift Store of The Open Door on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Proceeds at the store support hunger-relief programs of The Open Door.  

    • Borrow a book from a special Hunger Action Month™ display at one of the following libraries: Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library, T.O.H.P. Burnham Library in Essex, Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, and Boxford Town Library. 

    • Wear orange. Join a handful of community groups who will be sporting orange this September to raise awareness, including the Gloucester City Council at their Tuesday, Sept. 12 meeting, Gloucester Police Department Community Impact Unit, CORE Peer Recovery & Resource Center, Beauport Hospitality Group staff, and Sudbay Automotive Group team members. 

    • See Gloucester City Hall and the Beauport Hotel lit up with orange lights. 

    • Commuters: keep an eye out on Rt. 128 for a special Hunger Action Month™ banner at Sudbay Automotive coming soon. 

Mayor Greg Verga will issue a proclamation naming September Hunger Action Month™ on Hunger Action Day Friday, Sept. 15. The Gloucester City Council will also issue a proclamation at its Tuesday, Sept. 12 meeting.

Learn more about Hunger Action Month™ at FOODPANTRY.org and THANK YOU!

About Hunger Action MonthHunger Action Month™ 

Hunger Action Month™ is an annual, nationwide campaign by the Feeding America network to raise awareness and encourage action to reduce food insecurity.