Blog Post
Food for Thought: Hunger Action Month
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September is Hunger Action Month, and Well Beings is marking it with a curated collection of public media films, documentaries, and series that put human faces on a systemic problem. These stories range from scientists and farmers reimagining our food systems to families surviving in an existence where eating well isn’t an option for everyone. Climate Kitchen, an upcoming Well Beings series hosted by Maggie Baird, founder of Support + Feed, explores exactly this terrain — how everyday food choices connect to bigger questions about health, affordability, and the food systems we all depend on.
Hunger Action Month Videos
Hunger is a health issue that takes many shapes — from hungry kids who can’t focus in school to adults who lack the nutrients to withstand chronic disease. It shows up in rural communities hours from the nearest grocery store, in urban neighborhoods where fresh food is expensive or absent, and in households where working parents still can’t make the numbers add up at the end of the month.
Food, Insecure
Food insecurity among Hoosiers is getting worse, not better. This film offers explanations of the “benefits cliff” and ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Restrained, Employed) status, plus the nutrition crisis that drives poor health. Experts offer solutions and action steps to help alleviate food insecurity for the hundreds of thousands of employed Indiana residents struggling to put food on the table.
Food Justice
Food Justice offers a rare look into the lives of people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Viewed through a social justice lens, the production emphasizes that all people deserve access to healthier foods. Produced with Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health, with funding from the Statewide Health Improvement Program.
CONNECT NY Food Insecurity
On the December edition of Connect NY, we’ll examine food insecurity in the Empire State. Our panel of stakeholders and experts will highlight food assistance options in New York and explore what state policymakers in Albany can do to help feed hungry New Yorkers.
Starved: Our Food Insecurity Crisis
More than a million people in Pennsylvania are hungry because they cannot afford or do not have access to healthy food. This documentary examines food insecurity as a societal problem, identifying the causes and exploring the many ways in which the government, non-profits, farmers and individuals are working to bring nutritious meals to the tables of those who need it.
Hunger Has No Face: A West Texas Food Bank Documentary
Produced by Basin PBS, this is a documentary about the history of the West Texas Food Bank – Discover their history, how they serve, and where they’re going.
Fighting Hunger in Northwest Indiana | Victor Garcia
Victor Garcia is President & CEO of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, providing logistical support and food to 120+ pantries, soup kitchens, and community organizations and programming focused on reducing food insecurity, increasing self-sufficiency, and impacting the social determinants of health.
Maine Public Film Series Hungry Now
We’ve all driven right by them. We’ve all walked on by them, crossing to the other side out of caution. Who are they? What do they want? How did everyday children grow up to climb through a dumpster for half-eaten food, and end their winter days in a tent in the richest country in the world? Hungry Now hopes to connect a few dots: Where do these people come from?
Understanding the cuts to SNAP and food assistance
Nearly 2.5 million Americans may lose SNAP benefits under the new federal budget. While Republicans call it an “adjustment,” Foodlink says it’s a clear cut—one that will hit older adults and veterans hardest. We talk with the Foodlink team about what these changes really mean for local families, and how hunger relief organizations are preparing to respond.
These are not abstract statistics. They are real stories about real people managing in a food system that too often fails the people who need it most — and about the communities, researchers, and advocates working to change that.
Find Food Pantries and Meal Programs Near You
Food and Nutrition Resources
Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, operating a nationwide network of food banks, food pantries, and meal programs. Their site includes a food bank locator to help individuals and families find assistance in their community.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service administers 15 federal nutrition assistance programs including SNAP, WIC, and school meal programs. Their site provides eligibility information, program locators, and resources for families, educators, and community organizations.
The Alliance to End Hunger brings together a broad coalition of organizations — corporations, nonprofits, faith communities, and universities — united around ending domestic and global hunger. Their Hunger + Health initiative specifically addresses the intersection of food insecurity and health outcomes, which maps directly to Well Beings’ editorial focus.