September 4 - National Food Bank Day

Happy National Food Bank Day! National Food Bank Day on the first Friday in September encourages you to commit to contributing to the cause that believes no one should go to bed hungry. 

Hunger may be as close as your neighbor or your coworker in the next cubical. Bare cupboards and empty stomachs look just like yours and mine behind closed doors. 

Food banks across the country help some of the forty-two million men, women and children who struggle with putting food on the table.  

The reasons range from illness to job loss and a general change in circumstances. Circumstances that can happen to anyone of us. 

For parents struggling to make ends meet, the ability to look their children in their eyes over a meal instead of into hungry eyes is a difference made by supporting food banks. Food banks fill the gap for those living on a meager budget.  

Many food banks offer educational opportunities that help people change their situation and begin anew. 

Often, those who have benefited from the programs return to volunteer and contribute to the very food bank that staved off hunger to do the same for others. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Help a neighbor, a friend, coworker or a child by making a donation. Volunteer at your local food bank. 

Food banks take nonperishable food items and cash donations every day. Check their needs list for the fresh items they are seeking. 

Use #NationalFoodBankDay to give your local food bank a shout out and to share on social media. 

HISTORY 

In 1967, St. Mary’s Food Bank founded National Food Bank Day to recognize the outstanding contributions of food banks around the country and to commemorate the establishment of St. Mary’s Food Bank by its founder John van Hengel. 

https://www.firstfoodbank.org 

American grassroots activist and entrepreneur John van Hengel is credited as being the "Father of Food Banking". 

He came up with the idea of grocery rescue and food banking and the idea spread throughout the country, making St. Mary’s Food Bank the very first in the world! In 2017, St. Mary’s celebrated its 50th anniversary! 

They distribute 250,000 meals on a daily basis through the efforts of dedicated staff, partner agencies and volunteers.  

Their mission is to alleviate hunger through the gathering and distribution of food while encouraging self-sufficiency, collaboration, advocacy and education. 

Beginning in 2017, the Registrar at National Day Calendar® proclaimed National Food Bank Day to be observed annually on the first Friday of September. 

#NationalFoodBankDay 

@FeedingAmerica 

@stmarysfoodbank 

@StampOutHunger 

@firstfoodbank 

@nichecinema 

DATES 

September 03, 2021 
September 02, 2022 
September 01, 2023 
September 06, 2024 
September 05, 2025 
September 04, 2026 
September 03, 2027 
September 01, 2028 
September 07, 2029